CEBU, Philippines — Dumaguete City- Team Cebu City finally took the lead in the overall standing in the penultimate day of the Visayas qualifiers of the 2017 Batang Pinoy yesterday at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center here.
Cebu City sets the pace with 59 gold, 39 silver and 40 bronze medals. Cebu Province is at temporary second with 38 gold, 43 silver and 43 bronze, while Dumaguete City stand at third with 33-21-26 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.
TCC athletes harvested medals in the arnis and dancesport that powered them to the top. The stick fighters collected 15 golds, while the dancesport squad swept all 10 gold medals at stake.
Cebu City will try to seal its victory in the final day today as the team will once again rely on its arnis team together with their bets in tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball and table tennis.
The tandem of Francis Isaia Diluvio and Paige Silud in the junior A and Nino Salve and Trixie Dicdican in the junior C both scored a double-gold each.
The other gold medal contributors for Team Cebu City were Nigel John Angel and Shadelle Nina Hernandez (juvenile C), Mark Gabriel Dumaran and Ysabelle Monique Zambo (juvenile D), Hezekiah Sobrevega and Rydel Rowella Pat (junior C standard) and Mark Gabriel Dumuran and Ysabelle Monique Zambo in the juvenile C standard. Ralph Kevin Lapaz and Mitchloni Dinauanao also got an east golds as they were unopposed in the junior modern standard and latin.
Cebu City's jins also snared five golds in taekwondo through the efforts of Xander Palacpac, Johann Concepcion , Rebecca Ponte, Nohea Dela Fuente and Arturo Malaki, while Brylle Dago and Aljhune Dayanan handed two gold medals in the pencak silat event.
Team Cebu City also got a double victory in the beach volleyball.
Over at the oval, Mary Joy Loberanis sealed her bid with two more golds for Cebu City via the 1,500m girls and in the 4x400-meter relay together with Joie Francisco, Krystelle Me Leyson and Antonette Velayo.
Jessie Abelgos, for his part, handed a silver for Cebu Province in the boys 1,500m finals.
Cebu Province ended the athletics event with a bronze from the boys 4x400m relay. Abelgos were joined by Victor Alberca, John Dizon and Kyle Dahili.
TCC boxer John Kevin Jimenez silenced Dante Montales of La Carlota, 5-0, to claim the gold medal in the light mosquito weight, while JM Andrejas gave Cebu Province a gold in the light paperweight after stopping Bienjemar Codoy.
In archery, Dumaguete City registered five gold medals, while Team Cebu City settled for three silvers coming from Zhack Randolf Torreon. (FREEMAN)