By MARK REY MONTEJO
LEGAZPI CITY — Lucena City standout Peter Cyrus Dean continued to dazzle by clinching three more gold medals for a seven-gold harvest in the swimming competition of the 2024 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games at the University of Bicol Sports Complex here on Thursday, July 25.
The 16-year-old promising tanker conquered the boys’ 13-18 50-meter backstroke with a time of 27.58 seconds ahead of fellow CALABARZON bet Eric Jacob Umali (29.10sec) and Region IX’s Theo Ituralde (29.10sec), then clocked 1 minute and 41.74sec with Umali, Reinelle Trinidad and Lleyton Rara for the 200m freestyle relay gold.
He returned moments after and dominated the 200m individual medley with 2:14.33, edging Ituralde (2:23.80) and Region X’s Anton Malayang (2:24.06).
Prior to his recent feats, Dean dominated the 100m and 200m backstroke, 400m IM, 4x50m medley relay gold.
Meanwhile, Negros Island Region (NIR) showed determination and perseverance by overcoming the gruelling two-day trip en route to bagging three gold, two silver and four bronze medals in karatedo.
Jerson Fundador Macalipay bannered the crew by winning the senior men’s kata.
In taekwondo, Region XI’s Lance Justin Aying was hailed as the tournament Most Valuable Player.
His brother Kent, topped the senior men’s middleweight while NIR’s Dem Mark Gabayeron (heavy) took over in his respective class. Other winners in the said category were Region XII’s Jhyrald Dalida (fin), Jan Kenneth Rafols (fly), Axcel Inot (bantam), and Jerald Alcantara (feather), Vince Grepo (light).
CAR bets dazzled in senior women in Ezra Liporada (feather) Krishna Kate Gayudan (bantam) and Lei Ramon (fly), also victorious were from Region VII which was made of Angelie Daclan (light) and Christine Villascor (welter) and Ma. Martha Dela Victoria (middle) while NIR’s Acel Cabalhin reigned supreme in fin.
As of 12 noon on Thursday, Central Visayas (Region VII) currently leads the seniors category with 66 gold, 33 silver and 34 bronze medals, way ahead of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Western Visayas (Region VI) have 33-23-31 and 24-22-19, respectively.
In the youth medal tally, host Bicol (Region V) currently leads with 52-39-38 followed by Region VI (38-42-30) and Region IV-A (33-21-20).
