By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Army continued its dominance in the 2023 ROTC Games National Championships after grabbing four gold medals in kickboxing on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
University of Baguio standout Betty Mae Churping outclassed her Air Force rival Camille Joy Sanchez to win by points in the female 52kg division before schoolmate Kathleen Igualdo also crushed fellow Army Angelie Musa from the Sibugay Technical Institute to rule the female 56kg class.
Kristel Grace Llenas, a student of Quezon City University, brought down a taller rival in fellow Army Pauline Gallardo to reign in the female 60kg while Christopher Manipon, another University of Baguio student, won by points over Navy’s Jerome Negapatan to clinch the male 57kg gold medal.
Air Force’s Ghen-Yan Berdon and Navy’s Klenov Belo Pacada joined the Army standouts at the podium after winning in the male 60kg and 63.5kg division, respectively.
Berdon, a student from Nuevo Zamboanga College, punched his way to the gold with a first-round knockout victory over Army’s Mark Christian Ursabia, while Pacada won by points over Air Force’s Lloyd Salva.
Meanwhile, Philippine Navy showed its force in esports when it bagged the gold medal in the Call of Duty: Mobile event.
Navy, which was being represented by John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, edged Army’s STI West Negros University, 2-1, to capture the gold medal after the two-day tournament.
The school first made its gold-medal campaign felt with a 2-0 win over Davao Del Norte State College before blanking also PATTS College of Aeronautics.
In 3×3 basketball, University of Cagayan Valley bolstered its bid with victories over Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College, 21-20, and Our Lady of Triumph Institute of Technology-Pagadian, 21-11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Also prevailing in their matches were PATTS College of Aeronautics over Tanauan Institute Inc., 21-17; and Jose Rizal Memorial State University over OLLTC, 21-14.
