John Carlo Loreno hits 7 Batang Pinoy archery golds

MANILA, Philippines — John Carlo Loreno of Koronadal City topped the Olympic round to emerge with seven gold medals and the most be-medaled athlete in the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Davnor Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum, Davao del Norte yesterday.

Loreno, 15, bested Mycel Magallanes of Maco, Compostella Valley in the finals to cap a spectacular performance where he bested all comers with victories in 30 meters, 40m, 50m, 60m, single Fita and mixed team where he partnered with Precous Micah Basadre.

It would have been an eight-gold archery sweep if Loreno had a boys’ team.

“I’m happy I won and I’m now looking forward to qualifying to the Palarong Pambansa,” said Loreno, a Grade 9 Koronadal National Comprehensive High School student, in Filipino.

Loreno capped what had been a dominating effort by Koronadal, which collected a total of 20 golds including six by Basadre, who had six courtesy of her triumphs in the cadet girls 30m, 40m, 50m, single Fita, mixed team and Olympic round.

Basadre’s younger brother, Jeremiah Adrian Basadre, accounted for five after ruling the 20m, 30m, 50m, single Fita and mixed team for cubs boys.

North Cotabato’s John Alexander Talosig splashed his way to fifth gold in the 400m freestyle for boys 13 to 15 years old with a time of 4:28.35.

The Southern Christian College eighth-grader also won in the 200m free, 400m individual medley, 200 IM and 1500m free in the first two days of pool competition.