Garovillo rules gymnastics tilt

FORMER Palaro standout Mary Carmeli Garovillo and Anica Joy Sirios stamped their class to rule the senior and junior divisions of rhythmic gymnastics in the 2nd POC-PSC National Games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum last Friday.

Garovillo swept the ball (6.85), hoop (9.933), ribbon (7.050), and clubs (21.017) en route to  the all-around title.

Jean Caluscusin, who placed second to Garovillo in all of the apparatus except the hoop, was also runner-up in the all-around and took the silver while Karen Sthea Velez settled for the bronze in the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

“I’m happy to win after missing the inaugural PNG competitions in Bacolod,” said Garovillo, 16, of Liloan, Cebu, who missed the inaugural meet last year because of a twisted left ankle.

The 14-year-old Sirios topped the ball (23.7), hoop (22.517), clubs (20.2) and was second in the ribbon (18.4) to  snare the all-around gold, reasserting her superiority in the division for the second straight year.