Cebu City hits 39 golds to stretch lead in PNG

CEBU, Philippines — Team Cebu City moved within the threshold of claiming the overall supremacy in the Philippine National Games (PNG) with 39 gold, 48 silver and 43 bronze medals with only two more days left in the week-long sports conclave that drew some of the country’s best and brightest athletes.

In the official medal standings released by the PNG secretariat, Mandaluyong City leaped to second place with a 20-10-10 medal count, dropping Baguio City to third with a 16-25-23 tally. General Santos City temporarily runs at fourth with 15-18-22 followed by Mandaue City with 12-4-8.

Cebu City capped its campaign in the medal-rich athletics with three more golds and four silvers, while its swimming team fished out an additional gold, silver, and bronze at the Cebu City Sports Center(CCSC).

Inspired by her victory in the 1,500-meter run, Melody Perez flashed another bold move to win the women’s 3,000m steeplechase with a 12:23.24 clocking.

Jhuvan Jhen Baculot punctuated her PNG debut with a golden showing in the junior triple jump after clearing 11m.  She had an identical mark with Taguig’s Mary Grace Manumbale, but got the gilt  after getting her best mark on a fewer attempt.

Cebu City’s third gold came from the relay event anchored on Seth Abram Pilapil, John Marvin Rafols, John Paul Apilan and Jan Menard Ayade.

At the pool, Cebu City’s Karen Mae Indaya, Justine Reign Garrido, Razel Cabajar and Lindsay Anne Gonzalez snared gold in the 4x50meter relay.

On the other hand, after collecting two golds through Charlotte Aquino and Robiegayle Navales, Cebu City showed more power in taekwondo, hauling five golds after the second day of competition at SM Seaside City.

Three of Cebu City’s golds were from the poomsae team in the women’s juniors, senior men’s and women’s class.

The likes of Aidaine Laxa and Jemil Tajar also won a gold each through the junior division’s poomsae and kyurugi.

In karatedo, Cebu City got an additional gold, silver and three bronzes with the gold coming from Earl Justine Perez in the junior men’s 55 kgs. division of the kumite event.

In weightlifting held in the City of Naga, Cebu City ended its bid with a double gold from Dexter Tabigue via the junior and open division’s 85 kgs. class. He posted 110 kgs. in the snatch, 136 kgs. in the clean and jerk for a total of 246 kgs.