National bets lead PNG charge

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Members of the national pool, led by long-distance runner Mary Grace delos Santos and long jump specialist Marestella Torres-Sunang, stamped their class at the start of the PSC-POC Philippine National Games Finals at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here yesterday.

The 28-year-old Delos Santos, an Air Woman second class in the Philippine Air Force, didn’t have any problem ruling the 10,000-meter run. She was unstoppable in winning the gold, overlapping her competitors en route to the gold.

Delos Santos, former winner in the prestigious Milo Marathon, won the race in 39 minutes, 40 seconds, which was more than two minutes off her personal best.

“I’m not yet in my peak because I didn’t get my DS (dispatch service from the Armed Forces) early enough to have continuous training,” said Delos Santos, a native of Zamboanga who finished seventh in the marathon event of last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

The other members of the national pool dominated their respective events in Day One of the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

PSC chairman Richie Garcia and commissioner Jolly Gomez, who welcomed the delegates during dinner last Monday, were joined by Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino during the opening rites.

The PNG Finals is a chance for members of the national pool to prove their worth. If they fail here, they stand to lose their spots in the pool.

“Our national athletes have to be on their toes at all times,” said Gomez who voiced out the agency’s policy to recommend athletes to the national sports associations based on their performance here.

Torres-Sunang, multiple winner in the Southeast Asian Games, easily won the gold in women’s long jump although her winning jump of 6.13 meters was way too short of her 6.71m national record.

But Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association secretary general Renato Unso said they will still give the 35-year-old Torres, now a mother, a chance to compete abroad and seek a slot to the Rio Olympics in August.

John Albert Mantua, also of the national team, ruled the men’s shot-put with a 14.35-m effort. Baguio’s Cherry Doronilla bagged the gold in girls’ 10,000m in 42.53.4 seconds.

National pool members also threw their weight around in chess competitions held at NRSCC training hall with International Master Joel Pimentel winning the men’s Asean chess, IM Catherine Secopito in women’s Asean chess and Janelle Mae Frayna in women’s random chess.

Mandaluyong bet and Fide Master Narquinden Reyes pulled off a stunner in the men’s random chess, besting six other GMs for the gold, including Chess Olympiad veteran Rogelio Antonio Jr., and Richard Bitoon who placed second and third, respectively.

Reyes drew his matches with Antonio and GM Jayson Gonzales, but scored victories over three others, including Bitoon, to dominate the category where the Philippine first GM Eugene Torre saw action. Torre wound up seventh overall.