Dumaguete archer on target for Central Visayas in Palaro

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — Dumaguete City’s Phoebe Nicole Amistoso made a surprising comeback in the Palarong Pambansa following a double record-breaking performance for Central Visayas in secondary girls archery event of the week-long athletic meet at San Ildefonso Elementary School grounds here yesterday.

Amistoso, thus, raised CV's medal haul to six golds, seven silvers and five bronzes after two days of action in the 61th Palaro at the Heritage Province of Vigan.

This is only Amistoso’s second Palaro appearance

and the first time to represent Central Visayas as Dumaguete was formerly with the now dissolved Negros Island Region. She was only 14 when she first played in the annual sports conclave for elementary and high school student-athletes in 2016 where she went home empty-handed.

Now 16, Amistoso said she really aimed to get as many medals possible.

She was on target.

Amistoso fired back-to-back golds via the 30 and 40-meter events, and she did it in style.

Interestingly, Amistoso’s mom Romelyn said her daughter did not have any medal in the 40m event during the regional meet in Tagbilaran as she made some mistakes that cost her a podium finish.

Amistoso came oozing with confidence on a bigger stage this time.

On top her golden showing, the Silliman University student rattled 326 points to shatter the previous record of 318 points set by CAR’s Charmaine Angela Villamor in the 40m event.

She did the same in the 30m event, tallying 339 points to erase the old 334-mark of Femi Bajado of Western Visayas.

“I’m surprised,” blurted out Amistoso.  “I didn’t know I break records. I’m just happy to win the golds, but this is really such a suprise.”

“I don’t see this as a pressure for my next event but instead, I will make it an inspiration to do even better,” she added.

Amistoso’s teammate Carson Francis Hastie won silver in the second boys 30m competition.

In table tennis, CV bagged one gold and two bronzes in team competition behind the efforts of Mandaue’s Daniel Butar, Bohol’s Jebb Bataan and Cebu City’s John Gapol and Andrei Caballes .

Wrestling has also contributed its first gold for CV courtesy of Bayawan City’s Jonjie Enyong via the cadet 42-kilogram division.

In San Vicente, Lapu-Lapu City’s Kurt Imbert  Limbaga settled for bronze in the anyo single stick weapon of arnis.

In taekwondo, Hanifah Bint Mohammad Ali Oswa got the first medal for CV, a silver in the individual A category of poomsae event.

In tennis, CV got a silver from Venz Lominoque and a bronze from Elizabeth Abarquez.

On the other hand, gymnast Daniela Reggie de la Pisa leads in rhythmic gymnastics, but the official results in the individual all-around is yet to be released. De la Pisa could have easily snared the gold had she did not commit errors in the clubs.

CV hauled got four golds in pencak silat but is not counted in the medal standings as it is only a demonstration sport together with dancesport and aero gymnastics.(FREEMAN)