Judoka twins outclass rivals, boost ASIAD bid

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Fil-Japanese judoka twins Shugen and Keisi Nakano outclassed their rivals to share the spotlight with tanker Nicole Meah Pamintuan, who notched her fourth gold medal in the Philippine National Games at the Cebu City Sports Complex here.

The 22-year-old Iwate, Japan natives, bronze medal winners in the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last year, won all their matches via ippon – the highest score a fighter can achieve – with Shugen besting Pasay City teammate Al Rolan Lamas in the 66kg division and Keisi trouncing Taguig’s Czar Agustus Bayas in the 73kg. class.

Their emphatic victories are also expected to bolster their drive for berths in the national team vying in the 18th Asian Games in Palembang and Jakarta, Indonesia this August.

“They were impressive,” said Phl Judo Federation president Dave Carter of the Nakanos. “We are actually monitoring all the matches, not just our national judokas, because this serves as one of the bases for inclusion in the Asian Games in Indonesia.”

Other judo winners were Alvin Mendoza of Zamboanga in the 55kg, Bryn Quillotes of Manila in the 60kg, Ma. Jeanalane Lopez of Pasay City in the 44kg, Jazlen Awitan of Baguio in the 48kg, Helen Dawa of Baguio in the 52kg and unattached Rene Furukawa in the 57kg.

Representing Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Pamintuan, 18, came back strong from a day rest as she collected her fourth gold by topping the 100m backstroke in 1:09.81 ahead of General Santos’ Andrea Marie Punay (1:21.70) and Iligan’s Miles Dorothy Valdez (1:23.68).

Pamintuan, an incoming Grade 12 student at La Salle-Zobel who will suit up for La Salle-Taft in college, won her first three golds in the 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle and 50m back all in Day One work.

Pamintuan, member of the Phl squad that snared a relay bronze in the SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, shoots for a fifth gold today in the 200m free.

Niño Owen La Torre likewise sustained his charge, topping the 400m free in 4:28.49 to join Pamintuan in the elite quadruple gold medal club.

La Torre, who was already recruited by Perpetual Help to compete in the NCAA, earlier ruled the 400m IM, 100m and 1,500 m free for Gen. Santos City.

In athletics, Emily Jean Obiena dominated pole vault, while Mark Harry Diones took the triple jump gold with a 15.94m leap, beating Fauzi del Rio of Gen. Santos City and Archel Marikit of Cebu Province, who had 13.33m and 12.68m for silver and bronze, respectively.

Diones’ winning jump, however, was far from the 16.63m he posted in snatching the silver in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG.

Rosie Villarito, from Bago City, took the javelin mint in 45.98m while Rhea Joy Sumalpong copped the discus throw gold in 40.65m.