By Kristel Satumbaga
VIGAN CITY – CALABARZON bet Veruel Verdadero produced the worthiest win yesterday as he broke the 39-year-old Philippine junior record to win the secondary boys’ 100-meter gold medal in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa at the President Elpidio Quirino Stadium here.
The 16-year-old pride of Dasmariñas, Cavite ran as if he had a date with his dream girl to register a fast time of 10.55 seconds, shattered the PH junior mark of 10.60 seconds which Julio Bayaban set in the National Open in Marikina City 39 years ago.
In doing so, he also bettered the meet record of 10.65 seconds which he set in ruling one of the heats last Monday.
SOCCKSKARGEN’s Feberoy Kasi held the Palaro mark with a handtime of 10.74sec he posted in 2016.
Ralph Waldo Soguilon’s 10.30sec mark in the National Relays 16 years ago, however, was not recognized by PATAFA.
Verdadero debuted at the Palaro last year, sweeping all his five events, but his record-smashing win yesterday proved to be sweetest.
It was a twin victory for CALABARZON as Jessel Lumapas ruled the distaff side in 11.99sec, outsprinting Bianca Combate in the last 20 meters.
Central Luzon bet Ed Deliña joined the elite list of record-breakers after smashing the 13-year-old Palaro mark in the secondary boys’ discus throw in a fitting end to his colorful high school career.
Deliña heaved the metal disc to a distance of 42.67 meters on his fifth attempt to obliterate the previous mark of 41.62m set by Central Visayas’ Clifford Bonjoc in 2005.
The 18-year-old student from President Ramon Magsaysay State University in Iba, Zambales was actually in danger of being eliminated after fouling his first two attempts, but managed to qualify for the finals with a throw of 37.58m.
Eventual silver winner John Rafael Lamatan of CALABARZON first broke the mark with a 41.85m performance before Deliña outmuscled him at the University of Northern Philippines athletics field.
“Kinakabahan ako noong una kaya hindi pumapasok mga throw ko. Nag-relax na lang ako noong huli para makuha ko yung momentum ko,” said the 6-foot-1 Deliña, who has been dominating the field over the last three years.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region showed its might on the pool by winning 10 golds last Tuesday.
Christian Sy, Mark Jiron Rotoni, Gabriel Guerrero and Keane Ting timed 1 minute and 51.18 seconds to rule the secondary boys 200-meter medley relay, erasing the 2017 Palaro mark of 1:52.65 also set by an NCR bets.
Samantha Coronel, Thanya Dela Cruz, Camille Buico and Zoe Hilario also ruled the secondary girls 200m medley relay (2:08.83), even as Angela Torrico, Beatrize Mabalay, Michaela Mojdeh and Anya Austriaco in the elementary girls 200m medley relay (2:14.69).
