Laguna hot as Batang Pinoy SL leg gets going

CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro—Laguna dominated the start of the Southern Luzon leg of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Games yesterday by scooping up five track and field gold medals at the Jose Leido Memorial National High School oval here.

Gilbert Rotaquio kicked off his bid to sweep his long-distance events by ruling the boys’ 14-15 5,000 meters in 18 minutes 28.5 seconds.

Mark Adrielle Galve of Dasmariñas City, Cavite, was a far second in 18:52.1 while Earl Kim Russel Lerezo took third  in 18:55.9.

“I should be in great condition to win all of my events,” said Rotaquio, a third-year student from Siniloan High School, in Filipino. He is also the top favorite in the 1500m, 800m, 2000m walk and is a member of the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay teams.

Jordan Montemayor of Pila, Laguna, clinched the gold medal in the boys’ 14-15 shot put with a heave of 10.48 meters.

Other winners from Laguna were Marjorie Limos (girls’ 14-15 2000m walk), Rocena Chua (girls’ 14-15 high jump) and Charies Mae Violanta (girls’ 14-15 shot put).

Chaimo Panteriore could have given Laguna a sixth gold after topping the boys’ 13-under 2000m walk but he was disqualified later and Christopher Ecija of Dasmariñas was declared the winner instead.

Felix Libo-on snatched a second gold for Dasmariñas after a 5.60-meter leap in the boys’ 13-under long jump.