Faye Collantes —JUNE NAVARRO
Faye Collantes nearly swept the gold medals at stake in the archery event of the Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games right on her first appearance in the event.
She has her parents to partly thank for her success.
The 9-year-old dead shot from Naga City drew from her parents’ teachings in claiming four gold medals on Thursday at the rain-soaked Rizal Memorial Baseball Field where the archery competitions were held.
“I learned the sport from my parents,’’ said Collantes after hitting her target accurately and consistently to rule the 10 meters, 20 m, 30 m distances and the overall Fita event.
Faye’s father Noe and mother Fe were former archers who played for the Bicol region in the Palarong Pambansa during their heydays.
“We’re both archers, my husband and I. This is the first time that Faye played in a top-level competition such as the Batang Pinoy and we’re proud of her,’’ Fe told the Inquirer.
The youngest in a brood of three, Faye’s older brother Marc Dominic is likewise a deadeye, having topped several regional meets and tournaments across the country, including this year’s Palarong Pambansa.
Marc Dominic, 15, is also a Siklab Youth Sports awardee for archery when the award-giving body for the best junior and youth Filipino athletes across all sports were recognized early this month.
“I love archery and I’m hoping to win another medal here,’’ said Faye, who is seeking her fifth gold in the Olympic round after adding a silver to her collection from 15 m.
Training in backyard
According to her mother, the Collantes siblings hone their skills in a training facility in the neighborhood and sometimes in an 18-m range that the family built in their backyard.
While Marc Dominic is already under the radar of the national archery team, Faye won’t be far behind after showing up in these Games for the finest Filipino athletes 17 years old and below.
“We never played on the international stage. It’s going to be a big accomplishment for them and the family once Faye and Dominic play for our national team,’’ said Fe.
Meanwhile in the Philippine National Games, high jumper Leonard Grospe set a new national record while swimmer Quendy Fernandez ended her stint with a sixth gold medal on the penultimate day of the sportsfest.
Grospe shattered an 18-year-old national standard in men’s high jump twice with his 2.20-m effort to capture the gold. He broke the record of his own coach Sean Guevara, whose previous mark of 2.17 m was accomplished during the 2005 national open held at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Fernandez, the current UAAP swimming Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year from University of the Philippines Diliman, powered Puerto Princesa to victory in the 18-over 4x50m freestyle relay (1:54.43) with Maglia Jave Dignadice, Pearl June Daganio and elder sister Cindy Fernandez.