National athletes’ victories cap PNG’s last day

BACOLOD CITY—Ace triathletes Nikko Bryan Huelgas and Kim Mangrobang, windsurfer Reneric Moreno, and the Angana wrestling clan shone on a day of swashbuckling performances by the national athletes on Sunday, at the close of the Philippine National Games here.

Huelgas, who finished 11th in the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010, pulled off a dramatic victory at the expense of veteran triathlete George Vilog before collapsing a few meters after the finish line in men’s triathlon.

The national record-holder overcame a bum stomach and timed two hours, 11 minutes and 18 seconds in the race, which started and ended at the Marina-Pacific Shore in Talisay town.

Vilog, the national team coach and former No.1, clocked 2:13:05, with Benjamin Raffa, another national pool aspirant, copping the bronze in 2:17:29.

Mangrobang, who competed with Huelgas in the 2nd Asian Beach Games in Oman, ran away with the women’s crown, finishing in 2:31:29 to beat Mirasol Abad (2:43:52) and Michelle Benedicto (3:28:20).

Reneric Moreno topped the RSX class in windsurfing, prevailing over Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist German Paz at the Lopue Family Beach Resort here, while national sailors Geylord Coveta and Rey Joson wound up 1-2 in the formula class.

Jerene Durana won sailing’s Optimist A gold while the duo of Rigdely Balladares and Richly Magsanay triumphed in the Hobie 16. Princess Abapo nailed the gold in Optimist B.

It was an Angana family affair at the Panaad Sports Complex as brothers Jerry and Jimmy duplicated Margarito Jr.’s gold-winning performance in wrestling by topping the men’s 55 kg and 66 kg freestyle events.

Margarito, the most promising from among the Dumaguete brood, won the 55-kg Greco Roman gold. Another Angana, Joseph, settled for the silver against brother Jimmy in the 66 kg freestyle.

Huelgas posted split times of 22:35-1:04:19-44:24 in the 1.5-kilometer swim-40km bike-10km run Olympic event. The 20-year-old Mangrobang had split clockings of 23:56-1:15:16-52:17.

Out of 4,223 participants from all over the country, 554 athletes from the national training pool competed in 34 disciplines and won the majority of the 593 gold medals at stake.

Commissioner Jolly Gomez of the Philippine Sports Commission reiterated on Sunday the government agency’s stand of stripping the allowances of national athletes who refused to participate in these games.

In table tennis, Rodel Ireneo and Sendrina Balatbat captured the individual men’s and women’s titles, Lauro Crisostomo and Ting Ledesma landed the gold in the men’s doubles, and the tandem of Crisanta Abas and Arlene Borja dominated the women’s side.

Denver Parantac of Baguio (8.95 points) snatched his second gold in wushu after beating national pool member Thornton Sayan (8.87) anew in the (19-30 years old) long weapon freestyle. Parantac bested Sayan in the nanquan event the other day.

Other gold medalists in wushu (19-30) were Baguio’s Daniel Parantac (men’s taijian) and Kariza Kris Chan (women’s taijian) and Kariktan Garcia (women’s long weapon).

The trio of Metodio Suico, Junmar Aleta and Danilo Alipan from Cebu City bagged the doubles event gold in sepak takraw after beating Puerto Princesa’s Raffy Da, Roy Lanuza and Jose Ricky Gernale.

On other fronts, Negros First/ADU blanked Rizal, 8-0, in the finals of women’s softball, the sibling pair of Jhomar and Joseph Arcilla snatched the gold from Giovanni Mamawal and Mikoff Manduriao in men’s soft tennis doubles, and women’s individual champion Noelle Zoleta teamed up with Erdilyn Peralta for the other doubles crown.

Other freestyle wrestling champs: Roque Mana-ay Jr. (60 kg), Miguel Alo (74), Jason Balabal (84), Walden Carbonel (96), Francis Villanueva (120), Maribel Jambora (women’s 48), Cristina Vergara (55), Noemi Tener (59), Ephralyn Grosby (63), Edralyn Calitis (72).

Weightlifting gold medalists: Martin Patino (69 kg), Ronald Colonia (77), Garry Hortelano (85), Christopher Bureros (94), Joselito Padilla (105), Richard Pep Agusto (105+kg).