Mandaue archer strikes gold

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN, Philippines  - He may not have his own equipment, but this was no hindrance for Romeo Betache Jr. of Central Visayas from bagging his first gold medal in the archery event of the 55th Palarong Pambansa yesterday at the Capitol Resort Hotel archery range here. After three years of participating in the country’s biggest multi-sports event, the 16-year-old from Labogon National High School in Mandaue City, secured a golden finish in the Olympic round event.

Betache, who hails from Kawit, Medellin, snatched the gold medal from the bemedalled Karl Mari from Dumaguete City, who placed second for a 1-2 finish by CV.

Betache was a runner-up to Mari in the 50M, 40M and FITA and he got a bronze medal in the 60M event.

“With my intensive practice since April at our school’s open field, I was expecting that I will earn medals, but not gold since I know I will be facing tough archers from all over the country. But I was really hoping that I will get one since this would be my last Palaro,” said Betache.

During practices he was just using the school’s equipment. Prior to the Palaro, he had his training everyday even during Sundays because he would like to improve his sixth place finish last year.

Betache started engaging in archery when he was in first year high school without any idea on what the sport was all about but after being encouraged by his brother, he then embraced and learned to love the sport.

“I never regretted that I chose archery as my sport. I’m very happy now that I finally got a gold medal in the sport that I love. This was a fulfilling victory for me because after being in the lowest ranks in the previous years, I finally reached the top,” said Betache, who wishes to have his personal archery equipment.

Central Visayas hauled six golds yesterday in athletics, table tennis, swimming, arnis and taekwondo. The team now has a total of 17 gold medals.

The gold medal for athletics yesterday came from Neslee Angco from Tagbilaran City in the secondary girls’ 400-meter event clocking 59.4 seconds.

Raul Perez Jr. contributed a bronze in the 110-meter hurdles clocking 15.7 seconds, identical to the second placer, Raffy Gonzales fro Region IV-B 

The other gold medal for CV was contributed by the table tennis secondary boys powered by the University of Cebu (UC) crown paddlers in the team event defeating Western Visayas bets.

In the first singles clash, Daniel Jay Tormis fended off Edmund Garganian, 3-1, however, Val Stephen Jaca faltered in the second singles after he bowed to John Paul Gubaton, 0-3. The duo of Lemuel Agbon and John Philippe Honoridez bounced back as they took the doubles match, 3-1. In the reverse singles, Tormis fell prey to Gubaton, 1-3.

It was Jaca who took the spotlight after he saved Central Visayas after thrashing Garganian, 3-1, in the deciding singles to clinch the team event title.

Over at the Dagupan City Pool Site, the 13-year old Edgar Louise Che from Dumaguete City got Central Visayas’ first gold in the swimming event via the 50-meter breast stroke in the elementary boys division.

Karen Mae Indaya almost added gold but failed with just 30 milliseconds difference against Gwyneth Amber Cawaling of Region 1. Indaya clocked five minutes and 10.50 seconds in the 400-meter freestyle event.

John Darrel Dacalos added one more gold for Central Visayas after topping the featherweight division in the arnis event while Maximo Caballes Jr. added one bronze via the anyo event double identical weapon.

The sixth gold was courtesy of John Kim Lapas in elementary boys’ taekwondo.

The CV gymnastics team composed of Jojelyn Tracy Badonio, Mary Carmeli Garovillo and Karen Sthea Velez chipped in a silver medal in the team competition of the rhythmic gymnastics.

Other events

In volleyball, Pajo National High School-powered CV secondary girls volleyball squad booked a semi-final ticket after overpowering the equally-tough Calabarzon team in three-sets, 25-18, 19-25, 25-9. The reigning Milo Little Olympics (MLO) national champions of coach Fr. Rolando T. Manayon, will face the National Capital Region this morning.

Abellana National School (ANS) spikers also experienced the same fate after passing through a three-setter battle before thumping Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), 19-25, 25-18, 25-10.

Four-time Palarong Pambansa champion, Catmon Elementary School, also advanced to the semis after crushing Region XI in the quarterfinals.

In football, defending champion, Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) advanced in the semi-finals after routing ARMM, 8-1.

Dennis Noel Legaspi and Rogelio Castillon Jr. contributed two goals apiece while Valentino Calvo, Keen Agot, Shane Sarmiento and Jay Arrizabal added one goal each.

The younger Bosconians, on the other hand, duplicated the triumph as they also booked a semi-final ticket after beating Region 2, 6-1, courtesy of Thomas Glenn Ramos with two goals, Agustin Rafael Roa, Jimmy Haosen, Phil Harrets Libatog and Jon Joseph Reña.

Central Visayas boxers also advanced into the semi-finals.

Lloyd Jabez Antoque defeated Davao’s Jerald Cantero, 7-6 in the ant weight division, Christian Casamares beat Cotabato’s Hobert Cantero Jr., 4-2 in the minimum weight, Ariel Jay Sibay subdued Northern Mindanao’s Francis Diaz, 8-6, in the lite mosquito division while Kevin Cataraja overpowered Northern Mindanao’s Samboy Lao, 21-11, in the light fly weight event.

Rankings

Meanwhile, at the fifth day of action, National Capital Region (NCR) was on top of the ranking in terms of gold medal finish after hauling 48 golds, followed by Western Visayas with 24, Central Visayas at the third with 16 and Calabarzon with 15 at the fourth while Region 3 and Region 10 tied at the fifth with four golds apiece.