PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – Aldrener Igot Jr. capped his dominating show in the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships by winning two more gold medals to emerge as the most decorated athlete at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex here.
The rising Cebuano star was again on target as he led his team to victories in the mixed and boys’ events to end his glorious campaign with eight golds in the week-long tournament.
Igot had earlier stamped his class in the 20m, 30m, 40m, 50m, FITA and Olympic round the previous days.
Igot teamed up with Khalil Jasper Abella and Kien Zhyron Torreon in beating General Santos’ Renato Joaquin, Niño Gleam Sabile and Allyson Quiepo via shootout for the boys team gold before joining forces with Densil Shane Dinopol in downing Dumaguete City’s Niña Dominique Tagle and Matt Charrid Bajado, 6-2, in the mixed team event.
Igot’s 8th gold performance overshadowed the three gold-haul of Tuguegarao City’s Zion Daraliay.
Drawing strength from her late brother, Daraliay hauled three gold medals in wushu.
Daraliay, 10, dominated the san lu quan, jian shu and qiang shu female taolu (form) events to become the lone gold medalist of her city in the sport.
Daraliay dedicated her feat to her late brother, former national team member Rastafari, who died at age 11 from a freak accident at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex dormitory last October.
Daraliay’s father, Vincent, said they are not turning their backs from the sport despite what happened to their son.
“Dahil we still have another daughter, we want to continue with her career instead of running away from it and blame anybody,” said Vincent. “We’re thinking, we can form a group and try to be a voice and ask more support, care and welfare for our athletes.”
“It is like turning something negative and making it into a positive thing para mas lalo pang ma-inspire yung mga athletes,” he added.
Meanwhile, Baguio City ruled wushu by harvesting 13 gold medals courtesy of Aleca Dumseng (female 1st set chang quan, female 1st set qiang shu and female 1st jian shu), Andrei Albert (male 1st set chang quan, male 1st qiang shu/gun shu and male 1st set dao shu), Alyna Lomibao (female 1st set nan quan and female 1st set nan dao), Verah Dulay (female 24 taiji quan), Hans Lubguban (male 24 taiji quan and Male 32 taiji jian), and Carla Tilap (female 32 taiji jian).
At the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, Muntinlupa City reaped five gold medals in aerobic gymnastics while Makati City snared four golds.
Arianna Catap steered Muntinlupa City with golds in developmental individual women, mixed pair with Daniel Navarro, trio event with Evnah Gaviola and Aryana Atienza, and aero dance with Atienza and Daniel Gaviola.
Evnah Gaviola teamed up with Carol Romero and Haley Guasque for the Age Grop 1 aero dance gold.
Kenzo Manabilang, for his part, led Makati City in the Age Group 1 with victories in the individual men, mixed pair with Danielle Grace Asuncion and trio with Maria Miguela Tumanday and Ma. Althea Silot.
The other gold for Makati City came from Asuncion in individual women.
In kyorugi events in taekwondo, Nueva Ecija bagged three gold medals courtesy of Sharifa Dela Cruz (junior women bantamweight), Jusztene Buan (junior men fly), and Juliana Dela Cruz (light middle).
Cebu City, meanwhile, collected four gold medals in full contact padded stick of arnis coming from Clifford Tonilon (Cadet A boys heavyweight), Mary Fhaline Caballero (Cadet A girls heavy), Albert Estrera (Cadet B boys heavy), and Crystal Bowman (junior girls bantam).