Best of Nationals tower over the rest

LINGAYEN, Philippines – National team tracksters scored expected wins in the 200m dash to cap another dominant run in the PSC-POC Philippine National Games but sports officials rued Team Phl’s failure to shatter any national records at the close of the week-long event here yesterday.

SEA Games champion Archand Bagsit topped the men’s 200m dash in 21.39 seconds, beating teammates Edgar Alejan and Joan Caido, while Karen Janario took the women’s 200m dash gold in 25.33 seconds.

The Nationals amassed 82 gold medals, including 12 in pencak silat and 30 in weightlifting, which had a big number of weight categories. They also copped 30 silvers and 13 bronze medals as they generally proved that they deserve their spots in the team.

But Philippine Sports Commissioner Jolly Gomez said the performance of the Nationals was up to par although no national mark was broken.

“It’s a wake up call for the national athletes to level up their game. But all in all it’s an indicator of the level of competitions,” said Gomez of the PNG Finals which effectively became a “Philippine team-against-the-rest-of-the-country” showdown.

In tennis, veteran Johnny Arcilla continued his winning ways, besting Patrick John Tierro, 6-1, 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, for the men’s singles gold medal while Marian Jade Capadocia trounced Marinel Rudas, 6-1, 6-4, in the women’s final.

But Tierro got back in mixed doubles pairing with Maia Balce for the gold, while Arcilla and Ronard Joven bagged the men’s doubles crown. Balce and Capadocia topped women’s doubles.

 The Nationals’ output came from weightlifting (30-9-3 gold-silver  bronze medals), taekwondon (18-3-0), wrestling (10-2-0), chess (9-7-7), swimming (8-2-0),  archery (5-5-2) and dancesport (2-2-1).

Cebu had 20-15-22, Baguio  19-8-7,  Zamboanga City 10-22-15 and Manila 10-2-4), while host Pangasinan had seven golds, all from wrestling, against 12 silver and 12 bronze medals.

Hungduan, Ifugao had 6-6-4, Bohon 6-5-1, Koronadal 5-6-3 and University of the East 5-4-4.       

The PNG was participated in by 45 teams representing the Phl Team, Cebu City, Baguio, Zamboanga City, Manila, Pangasinan, Hungduan Ifugao, Bohol, Koronadal City and UE.