Banilad smashers win 11 medals in PNG

THE POWERHOUSE Banilad Elemetary School badminton team finished with 11 medals in the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission’s Philippine National Games in Dumaguete City.

Of the 11 medals, three were golds, one was silver and the rest were bronze medals.

Despite the decrease of their gold medals from last year’s five to three this year, head coach Eddie Estoconing is still proud of his little smashers.

After all, this is the same team that put Banilad Elementart School in the country’s badminton scene after impressive showings in the National Milo little Olympics and the Palarong Pambansa.

Lyrden Laborte won the gold medal in the 11-under boys singles category while teammate Carl Bernard Bejasa topped the 13-under boys singles. He also won the gold medal with James Ryan Navarette in the doubles competition.

According to Estoconing, the team would have garnered more gold medals if Cebu City did not limit the number of athletes in some sports./CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL