By Kristel Satumbaga
ILAGAN, Isabela – Aubrey Tom of Cainta, Rizal created ripples in the opening of swimming competition Tuesday by winning three golds while San Jose, Nueva Ecija dominated pencak silat in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Luzon leg championships here.
The 12-year-old Tom clocked 2 minutes and 37.95 seconds to rule the girls 12-under 200-meter individual medley then returned later to win the 12-under 100m freestyle in 1:04.24 and the 12-under 50m backstroke in 34.20 seconds.
“My coach told me to strike hard and enjoy the races,” said Tom, who is also using this tournament as a training ground for the Palarong Pambansa slated next month in Davao City.
Tom seeks to win two more mints when she competes in the 50m butterfly today and the 50m free on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Jenelle Ann Adriano and Luke Albert Capulong captured two golds each to help San Jose, Nueva Ecija to seven golds in pencak silat at the Brgy Osmeña covered court.
Adriano, an 11-year-old Grade 6 student at San Jose West Central School, ruled the pre-teenager girls tunggal event and teamed up with Camille Trases and Anne Mariel Dela Rosa to win pre-teenager girls regu division.
Ten-year-old Capulong, for his part, reigned supreme in the pre-teenager boys tunggal and the pre-teenager boys ganda with Samuel Benedict Ramos in his third Batang Pinoy appearance.
Other winners for San Jose were Bieto Barol Jr (early age boys tunggal), the trio of Jerameel Trases, Juliana Marie Salvador and Sheene Cantorna (teenager girls regu) and the team of Lance Scott Tira, John Willis Rimando and Matthew Albert Capulong (teenager boys regu).
Baguio City showed its might in taekwondo at the Brgy San Felipe covered court by grabbing six gold medals, outshining Quezon City which has five.
Michaelie Montes led Baguio City bets with victories in poomsae pair cadet with Cye Evangelista and team cadet with Xyla Alacyang and Khyla Guinto.
Also winning for Baguio City were Aesha Oglayon (poomsae individual cadet female), Kim Manzano (kyorugi bantamweight), Kurtney Calderon (kyorugi welter), and the team of Zeick Tacay, Gabriel Inacay and Zeik Ceniza (poomsae team junior).
In chess, April Joy Claros of Angeles City scored 5.5 points and Gio Troy Ventura of Dasmariñas City posted 6 points to prevail in the seven-round girls and boys rapid 12-under events at the Xentro Mall Open Lobby.
