DAVAO DEL NORTE – John Carlo Loreno collected five gold medals while the Basadres turned the archery competition into a family affair for Koronadal City in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg at the DavNor Sports & Tourism Complex here Wednesday.
Loreno, a Grade 9 student of Koronadal National Comprehensive High School, struck victories in the cadet boys 30-meter, 40m, 50m, 60m and single FITA events to become the most bemedalled athlete so far in this weeklong multisport grassroots competition.
It was his best performance so far after clinching two silvers and one bronze medal in the Nationals last year in Baguio.
“I am hoping for a better performance in the Nationals,” said the 15-year-old Loreno in Filipino, who is in his third Batang Pinoy appearance.
Siblings Precious Micah, Jeremiah Adrian and Justin Matthew Basadre combined for 10 gold medals from their respective divisions with 14-year-old Precious Micah and 13-year-old Jeremiah Adrian winning four golds apiece and 10-year-old Justin Matthew claiming two golds.
Precious Micah topped the cadet girls 30m, 40m, 50m and single FITA; Jeremiah Adrian ruled the cub boys 20m, 30m, 50m and single FITA; and Justin Matthew reigning supreme in the bowman boys Olympic round and single FITA.
“We enjoy competing together,” said Precious Micah in Filipino, adding that they were inspired to take up the sports after tagging along with their father, archery coach Florentino Jr.
Meanwhile, three tankers took an early plunge in the medal pool at the start of swimming competitions.
Davao City’s Liaa Margarette Amoguis topped the girls 12-under 100m butterfly (1:11.02) and the 200m individual medley (2:30.00), Davao del Norte’s Rain Andrei Tumulac reigned supreme in the boys 12-under 100m fly (1:14.68) and the 100m freestyle (1:05.49), and Bukidnon’s Gene Heart Quiambao dominated the girls 13-15 50m backstroke (33.59sec) and 100m free (1:03.22).
In arnis, Tacurong City harvested 13 gold medals at the CityMall in Tagum courtesy of Maria Veronica Ilagan (cadet girls traditional individual 1 weapon), Althea Charmene Delos Santos (cadet girls traditional individual 2 weapons and non-traditional individual 1 weapon), Jeko Jan Heyres (junior boys traditional individual 1 weapon), Princes Sheryl Valdez (junior girls traditional individual 2 weapons and non-traditional individual 1 weapon), and Cristian Dave Bucio (junior boys non-traditional individual 2 weapon).
Also delivering for Tacurong were teams of Andrei Alcarato, Jeko Jann Heyres and Jan Vincent Monserat (junior boys traditional team open weapon); Shena May Valdez, Joana Marie Julaya and Sthepane Mones (junior girls traditional team open weapon and non-traditional team open weapon); and Cristian Dave Bucio, Miguel Clavation and Samuel Clavation (junior boys traditional team open weapon).
