Cebu athletes reap 3 more golds in PNG

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano judoka Joaquin Nicolo Fernandez reaffirmed his mastery over De La Salle University's Joshua Ebrada to clinch gold medal in the junior 66 kgs. category of judo event in the 2013 POC-PSC Philippine National Games the other night at the Amoranto Stadium in Manila.

Fernandez, a fourth year Philosophy student at the University of the Philippines-Dilliman, now hopes to be included in list of Pinoy representatives to the Myanmar SEA Games later this year.

Rey Almencion of the University of Cebu, on the other hand, won bronze medal through the junior -81 kgs. class.

In cycling at the Amoranto Velodrome, 13-year-old Patricia “Icamax” Maximo salvaged a silver medal in the women's junior individual time trial covering 500 meters with a time of 49.52 seconds, the youngest in the field to win a medal.

"I did not expect I can win since this is my first try. When my dad told me I am racing for Cebu City, I got scared. I thought it was just an ordinary race," said the incoming grade 8 student of Sacred Heart School - Hijas de Jesus sponsored by YKKBikes.com.

At the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Southwestern University's Hanah Tudtud settled for a silver in the junior women's singles event of badminto competition, She lost to UP-Dilliman's Elisha Ongcuanco in the finals, 21-13, 11-21, 24-22.

Ralph Ian Mendez, for his part, ended up with a bronze in the men's elite division after losing to Mark Shelley Alcala in the semifinals, 21-13,21-14. Alcala went on to win the gold medal.

In chess played at PUP, UC's Diego Abraham Claro handed gold for Cebu City after beating Jose Castro in the junior boys  blitz event. Both Claro and Castro were tied at 5.5 points each after seven rounds of action, but Claro got the gold on a tie-break.

Two other UC athletes, weightlifters Christian Catingub and Rue Collen Pabuaya, also made valuable contribution to Team Cebu City.    

Catingub won silver in the junior men's 62 kgs. category and a bronze in the men's open division, while Pabuana got a silver in the youth boys 69 kgs. class. (FREEMAN)