By REYNALD MAGALLON
Oozing with fire and determination despite being drenched by heavy morning rains, Zamboangueña Grade 6 student Giethyl Daze Lubguban delivered the first gold medal in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa just before its formal opening on Monday, July 31 at the PhilSports Track Oval .
The 12-year-old from Zamboanga Del Sur topped the girls elementary high jump with a leap of 1.40-meters, besting 23 other participants from the 17 regions.
Brieyanna Nichole Camacho from Tarlac bagged silver on 1.37m while Shanelle Jane Felomino took home the bronze on1.34m.
Lubguban couldn’t help but become emotional upon clinching the gold medal which she dedicated to her overseas Filipino worker father who was the one accompanying him during her training before flying to Taiwan just a month ago.
“Sabi ni papa kapag ma-first ako sir. Proud na proud siya sa’kin,” she said.
Her coach Recca Catacutan didn’t actually expect the performance from her student, especially that she had just recovered from a fever just a couple of weeks ago.
Lubguban, though, soldiered on and was just really determined to win her first Palaro gold with her father watching through Facebook live.
Meanwhile, Sean Harry Narag kicked off the National Capital Region’s bid to defend the overall championship for the 16th straight year with a gold medal in the boys’ pole vault secondary event.
The Grade 12 student from University of Sto. Tomas posted a personal best of 3.90m while teammate Mejen Sumbongan recorded 3.80m for a 1-2 finish for NCR. Claiming the bronze medal was Eumar Mamogay from Bayawan City Negros Occidental with a 3.30m clearance.
Up for grabs on the second day of the Palaro action are 17 more medals in athletics still at the PhilSports track oval. The young tankers will also be competing for 18 medals in swimming at the Marikina Sports Complex while six medals in taekwondo are also at stake at the Marikina Heights.
