Colaste seals Iloilo’s overall title

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Kimberly Colaste of Iloilo City overcame a fourth-round defeat to rule girls blitz and complete a three-gold chess sweep yesterday that capped host Iloilo City’s historic triumph in the Visayas leg of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Iloilo Sports Complex Covered Gym here.

The 11-year-old Colaste bounced back from a painful defeat to Kristina Concepcion Belano of Cebu Province by sweeping her last three opponents and beating the latter and Precious Jewel Dolar of Victorias City via tiebreak to rule the 12-under event and end up with the most golds in the sport with three.

Belano, who blew her golden chance by losing to Dolar in the fifth round, contented herself with a silver while the latter booked a bronze.

All three finished with six points apiece but Colaste, a Guimaras native, emerged with the highest Buccholz tiebreak score of 30 against Belano’s 28.5 and Dolar’s 28.

“I didn’t lose heart when I lost. I just played more aggressive after it,” said Colaste, who also reigned supreme in rapid and standard, in Filipino.

Also winning in blitz were Michael John Stephen Inigo of Bayawan in the boys’ 12-under,  John Lester Belano of Cebu Province in the boys’ 15-U and Alphecca Gonzales Cebu Province in the girls’ 15-U.

Iloilo City also brought down regional basketball powerhouse Cebu Province, 78-72, to snare the girls’ basketball gold.

The host also copped a gold in table tennis courtesy of Alain Vincent Dominguez and Levee Marie Oliva in mixed doubles.

Mandaue City’s Daniel Butar (cadet boys’ singles), Cebu Province’s Mikylla Therese Dinuanao (cadet girls’ singles), Tagbilaran’s Jebb Jerwin Datahan (mini-cadet boys’ singles) and Sigma, Capiz’s Leslie Faye Dizon (mini-cadet girls’ singles) were the other victors in table tennis on the final day.

Lawn tennis also belonged to Iloilo City after it swept all three golds staked in the girls’ section – singles, doubles and team.

The final day surge sealed Iloilo City’s first overall title in the history of Batang Pinoy as it harvested 57 gold, 49 silver and 44 bronze medals that dethroned last year’s Visayas leg titlist Cebu City, which ended up second with a 42-55-63 (gold-silver-bronze) medal harvest.

Cebu Province wound up at No. 3 with 38-38-52.

In badminton, Mandaue scooped up five of the eight golds available thanks to Gian Arante and Lloyd Erynz Rosema U-13 boys’ doubles), Hailene Reeze Diaz and Naeomi Ysabel Gulpany (U-13 girls’ doubles), Diaz (girls’ singles), Araneta (boys’ singles) and Karyll Rio (U-13 girls).

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports commissioner Ramon Fernandez officially declared the games closed in simple rites at the Golden Jubillee Hall.

The Batang Pinoy qualifiers will conclude with the Luzon Leg slated March 16-24 in Ilagan City, Isabela.