Alvarez dominates badminton tourney; Taguinod shines anew

14yr old Jochelle Alvarez of Pila, Laguna. Girls badminton singles and doubles gold medals at 2017 Batang Pinoy @psc_gov @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/sk3mm0LBmV

— June Navarro (@junavINQ) October 27, 2017

VIGAN CITY—Jochelle Alvarez left the national developmental pool and devoted most of her time to school.

The 14-year-old from Pila, Laguna, might consider going back to the Philippine team after proving her worth again in the badminton competitions of the 2017 Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games Luzon qualifying leg.

Combining power and agility, Alvarez trounced Christine Dorega of Malolos City, 21-7, 21-14, in the girls 13-15 singles finals before joining forces with Maria Ariana Belene for another golden output in the doubles event.

Alvarez and Belene tripped Bulacan’s Clara Sofia Ignacio and Kimberly Lao, 22-20, 21-12, in the doubles finale at the Vigan Convention Center here where Laguna carted away four of the eight gold medals at stake in the sport.

“I would love to play again for the national team,” said the 5-foot-5 Alvarez, a ninth grader from Colegio Monterey De Pila, Laguna, who also captured the 13-under singles gold in the 2013 edition of the sportsfest designed for athletes 15 years old and younger.

“But it’s difficult for me to train in Manila and go to school in Pila at the same time,” added Alvarez.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Jalil Taguinod of Santiago City punctuated his glittering campaign in swimming with an impressive performance in the boys’ 12-under 100-meter breaststroke, sharing the spotlight alongside archer Bryan Amir Eugenio of Tarlac with five gold medals each.

Tall for his age, the 5-foot-8 Taguinod clocked 1:14.27 in the 100-m breast, faster than Ethan David Gabriel of Angeles City (1:25.30) and Dave Cadelino of Laguna (1:28.53) by almost half the length of the 50-meter pool at Elpidio Quirino Stadium.

Eugenio emerged triumphant in the 30m, 40m and 50m distances for cub boys as well as snaring the golds in the 1440 round event and the mixed team discipline with Allysa Faye Felipe.

Baguio City continued to lead the overall medal tally with 33 golds, 34 silvers and 33 bronzes.