Fastest Batang Pinoy wants to stay put in Cavite

TAGUM CITY—After becoming the fastest man for the second straight edition of the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy Championship, sprinter Veruel Verdadero is determined to stay put—away from the allure of Big City lights.

Big Manila-based schools have again come running to sign up Verdadero after the 15-year-old from Dasmariñas City in  Cavite ran away with his fourth gold medal in the 2016 Games here yesterday.

“There are plenty of offers from schools, but I think I can improve my time further if I stay,” said Verdadero in Filipino after winning the boys’ 13-15 200m run over Iloilo’s Jayson Buhayan.

“(And besides), we have good coaches at home.”

The ninth grader from Immaculate Concepcion Academy in Dasmariñas earlier retained the boys’ 100m title and added the 400m to his collection.

Verdadero narrowly escaped Buhayan, clocking 23.29 seconds with the Ilonggo settling for the silver medal with a time of 23.74.

Earl John Limpag made it a crowded finish with an effort of 24.15 seconds that was good for the bronze.

With a cash bonanza of P10,000 from Dasmariñas City Mayor Elpidio Barzaga Jr. for each gold medal won, Verdarero has so far had a lucrative stint after also helping his team scoop the 4x100m relay gold.

He had thought of going for a fifth gold in the 4x400m relay but decided against it after slightly pulling his hamstrings.

“I had a total of 11 races in a span of three days. I think that’s enough,” said Verdadero, who brought home a bronze medal in the 200m during the Children of Asia Games in Yakutsk, Russia this year.

Judging from his performance, Verdadero is a sure bet for a slot in the Philippine contingent that will see action in the Southeast Asia Athletics Youth Championships in Ilagan, Isabela in March next year.

Kenneth Corpuz of South Cotabato won the boys’ 16-17 200m, Gianeli Gatinga of Taguig City topped the girls’ 16-17 triple jump and Gim Pel Ablona prevailed in the girls’ 16-17 javelin throw.

Other gold medalists on the track were Edwin Giron Jr. of Dasmariñas (boys’ 16-17 800m), Marisol Amarga (girls’ 16-17 800m), Raul Payon of Koronadal City (boys’ 13-15 800m) and Bernalyn Bejoy of Negros Occidental (girls’ 13-15 800m).

In standard chess, Daniel Quizon of Dasmariñas, Cavite ruled the boys 12-under category, John Marx Anastacio of Pangasinan bagged the gold in the boys’ 13-17, Kylen Joy Mordido of Dasmariñas City reigned in the girls’ 13-17 and Alphecca Gonzales of Cebu province won the girls’ 12-under.

Karatekas from Cebu City seized five golds in the kata event, while Zamboanga City struck hard in pencak silat with five victories in the standing.