Manila claims Batang Pinoy overall crown

MANILA, Philippines—Quezon City and Marikina grabbed the gold medals in centerpiece events of swimming and track and field, but it was Manila which ended up capturing the overall championships in the National Capital Region leg of the POC-PSC Batang Pinoy 2012 that ended Friday at Marikina Sports Complex.

Manila’s finest athletes came up with strong runner-up finishes to boost their campaign in the meet  for 15-and-under athletes.

Manila collected 43 gold medals, 38 silvers, and 37 bronzes, besting Quezon City (37-57-49) and Marikina (33-20-23) in the race for the overall crown.

Marikina topped athletics, making use of the home court advantage to forge a 23-12-12 tally. Manila finished 20-16-14.

Providing the spark for Manila in track and field were athletes from back-to-back NCAA champion San Sebastian led by Vincent Nabong.

The 14-year-old Nabong, a sophomore high school who won two golds here last year, spearheaded Manila’s charge with five victories, including the meet’s first event event of boys 15-under 5,000-meter. He wound up taking the top honors in 1,500m run, 800m, and was part of the  4×100 and 4×400 conquests.

SSC Staglets Resty Lorenzo also came up with five golds: Boys 15-under long jump, high jump, triple jump and relays. Teammate Venz Pena copped the 100m dash title aside from taking part in the triumphant relay teams.

Quezon City landed 23 golds, 23 silvers and 13 bronzes as it annexed the swimming title on a double-barreled attack by crowd darlings Kirsten Chloe Daos and Raissa Regatta Gavino. The QC girls were hailed best athletes in the leg with six gold medals each.

However, Manila chased QC in the pool with a 19-21-22 tally. Regina Castrillo starred for Manila as she tried to steal the spotlight from QC’s wonder girls by winning four golds on her own, including one where she recorded a new meet standard.

Castrillo broke the 13-under 100m butterfly when she swam 1:08.97, erasing the 1:09.18 of Laguna’s Catherine Bondad last year. She also bagged golds in 50m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 50m freestyle.

Taguig, bouyed by trackster Ginelli Gatinga and Sofea Diaz, who produced five golds each in athletics, was fourth overall with a 20-14-18 tally, while San Juan grabbed 11 golds all in swimming with six silvers.