Dumaguete City— As the antepenultimate day ended, Region 7 found itself one rank lower of its target. But the the delegation has a lot to look forward to when the 2013 Palarong Pambansa enters its last two days of competition today.
Region 7 yesterday had a meager harvest with Myla Agus being the lone athlete to win a gold after she ruled the archery secondary girls Olympic round. Jujith Llanto had a silver finish in the secondary boys Olympic round.
In the initial count as of 8 p.m. yesterday, Region 7 dropped from fourth place to fifth spot with nine golds, 13 silvers and 15 bronzes.
Keeping the fourth spot has been the primary goal of the region but Region 4-A has already taken the position with two days of competition left with 13 golds, 12 silvers and 23 bronzes.
“We are still hopeful of keeping the fourth spot. Today will be crucial,” said Vivian Ginete, executive secretary of the Central Visayas sports council. “We were fourth for the last eight or nine years and the athletes are really working hard to maintain it.”
NCR PULLS AWAY
Perennial champion National Capital Region (NCR) still leads the race by a wide margin with 57 golds, 41 silvers and 31 bronzes.
Region 6 is at second with 28 golds, 23 silvers and 15 bronzes. At third is Region 3 with 16 golds, 10 silvers and 11 bronzes.
Though it didn’t make a lot of noise yesterday, Region 7 is tipped to come up with a good harvest today as four boxers advanced to the final round, assuring themselves silver-medal finishes.
Playing for gold medals today are secondary boxers Kit Ceron Garces (46 kilograms), Junrel Jimenez (49 kgs.) and Clint Gersale (40kgs.). Battling for the championship in the elementary division is Lloyd Jabes Antoque (34 kgs.).
With four of six boxers making it to the gold medal rounds, Region 7 is on the verge of bouncing back from a dismal showing in last year’s Palaro, where it failed to win a single gold.
“We are confident of of our chances in the gold medal rounds since we already got past the difficult opponents in the semis,” said Allen Garces, father of Kit Ceron and one of the team coordinators.
Two Region 7 bets in the secondary lawn tennis will also play in the semifinal round today.
Ed Adrian Parangan clinched a semifinal ticket after easily beating his Calabarzon opponent, 8-0, in the singles A, while John Michael Necessario pulled off an 8-6 victory against his opponent from Region 6.
The secondary boys and girls volleyball teams as well as the elementary girls and boys squads are already in the semifinals of the event.
The secondary basketball girls and the secondary boys also booked semis tickets but the elementary boys team was booted out after tasting a 57-46 loss against Region 3.
Danny Villagracia, team coordinator, said Region 7 placed the result of the match under protest to question the eligibility of Region 3’s players.
“They looked overaged. Some of them even have mustache already,” said Villagracia.
GYMNASTS SHINE
Cushioning the impact of yesterday’s lone gold harvest were the four silvers and three bronzes that Region 7 racked up.
Behind gymnasts Marian Alegado, Daniela Reggie dela Pisa and Stephanie Labay, Region 7 snagged a silver in the team event of the elementary all-around rhtymic gymnastics (RG).
Kim Paler, Eunice Odag and Tracy Badonio also pocketed silver in the secondary girls gymnastics all-around RG.
Region 7 also got silver in the elementary girls taekwondo team pomsae courtesy of Clement Tan, Wendell Rama and Charles David Labiste.
Love Fe Andrin, one of the Andrin siblings making a name in Cebu’s running circuit, won a bronze in the 1,500-meter run. Karen Mae Indaya pocketed a bronze in the 400-m freestyle while Kimberly Bonsubre came up with a bronze in the arnis secondary girls full contact event.