Cebuanos sizzle in karatedo

CEBU, Philippines — Dumaguete City-The karatekas of Team Cebu City and Cebu Province showed their might as they harvested medals in the 2017 Batang Pinoy-Visayas qualifying leg yesterday at the Plenary Hall of the Negros Oriental Convention Center here.

Cebu Province grabbed 12 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals from the combine kata and kumite events.

The athletes who contributed gold medals for Cebu Province were Giovanni Ephraim Apuya with two golds each while the rest came from Janine Narboada, Trisha Jean Ogoc, Rheiane Annarie Luza, Precious Avegail Belicario, Rhean Negapatan,  Allena Mariz Benitez, Nino Kime Avila , Janine Narboada, Rome Florenz Metante and Jerson Sanchez.

Team Cebu City, for its part, had six gold, nine silver and 15 bronze medals. The girls kata team led Cebu City’s charge, while Nicholas Arthur Avila, Gian Mangitngit, Adrian Ray Ayuda, Genda Atillo and Gabriel Tolero chipped in one gold apiece.

Bogo City and Consolacion also got one gold each in the final day of the karatedo event.

Unlike karatedo, the Cebuanos failed to dominate the swimming event as Aklan tankers reigned supreme with their 15-10-4 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.

Bencynt Ghail Luague saved Team Cebu City from a gold medal shutdown after she topped the girls 13-15 class in the 400m individual medley. She also got 11 silvers and 10 bronzes.

Cebu Province tankers ended their campaign at the pool with four gold, seven silver and 12 bronze medals. Charles Jeremiah Lipura scored a double gold in the 100m and 200m butterfly, while Marielle Estreba added one via the girls 100m butterfly as Karen Manayon delivered the final gold in the girls 200m butterfly.

Meanwhile, the penultimate day of athletics saw Mary Joy Loberanis of Team Cebu City settling for a silver medal in the 800m run.  Team Cebu City so far has six gold, six silver and one bronze medals in athletics. (FREEMAN)