Zamboanga go on gold medal romp in Batang Pinoy

DAPITAN CITY—Zamboanga City brought out the big guns in the medal-rich fronts, while Davao City grabbed some limelight of its own yesterday as they threatened to turn the POC-PSC Batang Pinoy 2012 Mindanao leg into a two-way battle here.

With the biggest contingent of all the local government units here, the Zamboanga athletes scored heavily in athletics, swimming, karatedo and lawn tennis to gather 22 gold medals, 11 silvers and 15 bronzes  at Jose Rizal State University sports complex.

The 109 athletes from some 300 kilometers south of this city scoured six golds in swimming led by Glenn Adrian Arsula, 12, who annexed the top prize in boys 11-12 200m backstroke before leading Zamboanga City to the boys 15-under 200 medley relay title.

Other triumphant Zamboanga tankers were 12-year-old Jesse Kirei Tan in the girls’ 12-under 50 breaststroke, Gemries Nochefranca in the boys 13-15 50 breast, Shermalyn Jalmaani in the girls 13-15 50 breast and Vyanka Nykole Macaso in the girls 11-12 200 fly.

Jalmaani, Macaso and Tan also picked up their second golds when they snared the girls 15-under 200m medley relay along with Marietonie Allysha Ledesma. Arsula and Nochefranca then steered their team to the boys 15-under 200m medley relay victory with Idha Warfahly Bangahan and Jonel Ventura.

“We monitor our athletes consistently and we are ready to compete any time of the year,” said Zamboanga City delegation official Jonathan De Sosa, who said the program was an initiative of Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Davao City flexed its muscles on the field with victories in girls 14-15 high jump through Shymae Radores, girls 13-under discus throw (Krizelle Abajon) and boys 13-under discus throw (Lian Julius Galingan).

The delegation also captured seven golds in swimming through double-gold winner Haruka Jade Shimizu, 11,  who scored two victories in the pool.