CBM swim team bags one gold in Nationals

The swimmers of the Cebu Blue Marlins once again made team Cebu City proud as they finished with one gold, four silvers and one bronze medal in the swimming event of the ongoing National Batang Pinoy in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Leading the medal tally was Anthony Linn Navarro of the Cebu Eastern College, who fished the club’s lone gold in the 100-meter backstroke and three silvers via the 200m Individual Medley (IM), 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke.

The rest of the medals were contributed by Michael Ichiro Kong of the University of Cebu, who clinched silver in the 100m butterfly. He also salvaged a bronze in the 50m freestyle.

Meanwhile, Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco and Luis Gabriel Moreno swept the individual honors as Manila reigned in the  archery event at the Metro Naga Sports Complex.

The 14-year-old Gotuaco, a US Games silver medalist, asserted her domination in the girls’ division, winning both the Double FITA 18-meter single and the Olympic Round in impressive fashion, while the 13-year old Moreno made it a double celebration.

“It’s hard to explain my feeling right now. All I know is I’m very thankful to my mom and to my coach for the support and understanding. I just try my best to at least improve my performance in every game and I’m so blessed I guess , ending up winner against the best archers in the country,’ said Gotuaco, who improved his 547 points performance in the Manila elimination with a 553 output (271-283) in the 20-ends, 60 arrow duel.

Moreno, the winningest athlete in recent Philippine National Games in Bacolod with five gold medals, rebounded from his loss to teammate Luis Valmocina in the Manila leg as he ruled the FITA boys single with 554 (278-276) points, then demolished Karl Kristoan Mari of Visayas in the Olympic Round finale, 7-3.The 13-year-old grandson of showbiz icon German Moreno closed his final ends shoot-out with perfect 30 points.

“It’s a classic way to finish the final. From 3-all, Gabby raised the bar by scoring no less than nine points before he wrapped up the match with three straight perfect 10s,” said Moreno’s coach national mainstay Rachel Ann Cabral.

For their feat, the two young athletes are both eligible candidates for the five Outstanding Athletes Awards who will represent the country in the 2012 London Olympics Summer Sports Program at the St. Edmund’s College.

Batang Pinoy marketing director Albert Almendralejo said that the PSC and the British Council already agreed to finance the expenses of the top athlete, at the same time,  tapping the private sector for  sponsorship for the  remaining candidates.

MINOR ACCIDENT

Meanwhile, Standard Insurance acted quickly in a minor freak accident involving Manila swimmer Mica Buna, who accidentally slipped and fell on the floor. She  was rushed to the St. John Hospital for treatment and x-rays results showed no signs of danger.

Action in  athletics also continued with Gio Bryan Malinao winning the gold in the boys, 110m hurdles (15.9), Jasmine Felix ruled the 110m girls’ hurdles (16.0) and Kimberly Dangli emerged champion in the girls’ shot put (9.19 meters). In

Other sponsors of the event are Standard Insurance together with Milo, Jollibee, Negros Navigation, RELIV Now for Kids, Growee Multivitamins, and the British Council. /mars g alison with reports from psc.gov.ph