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Following their double gold feats on opening day, Pasig’s Arvin Taguinota and Malabon’s Sophia Rose Garra each add another mint to their tally in the Batang Pinoy
PALAWAN, Philippines – Swimmers Arvin Naeem Taguinota II and Sophia Rose Garra sustained their fine forms after each copped their third gold medals in the 2024 Batang Pinoy competition at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex pool here.
Following their double gold feats on opening day, Taguinota and Garra both claimed their third first-place finishes in their respective competitions on Monday, November 25.
Taguinota of Pasig clocked 2 minutes and 19.88 seconds in the boys’ 12-13 200m LC backstroke, while Garra of Malabon recorded 2:30.00 in the girls’ 12-13 200m LC backstroke.
Both are coached by Olympic swimmers, with Taguinota mentored by Jessie Lacuna (2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro) and Garra by Jenny Guerrero (2000 Sydney).
Over in obstacle course race, which debuted in the Batang Pinoy, Gavin Ti of Quezon City and Zara Mae Chua of Quezon City ruled the boys’ and girls’ 14-15 class, respectively.
Ti finished the course in just 54.49 seconds, while Chua paced the field with 1:15.47.
“I feel proud and very relaxed because I could feel the pressure while doing my runs,” said Ti.
Meanwhile, Aerice Dormitorio dominated the girls’ 13-under mountain bike cross country Olympic (XCO) division, clocking 25:04.74 as the lone participant to cross the finish line successfully.
Aerice is part of the famed cycling family coached by father Dodjie. She is the younger sister of Southeast Asian Games medalist Ariana Evangelista, as well as 16-year-old Lexi Dormitorio, who reigned in the girls’ 16-17 mountain bike XCO.
“It felt good because I wanted the gold,” said the 13-year-old Aerice, who represents Quezon City.
“Of course, we’re very happy, and even more motivated, especially this is our passion,” said Dodjie.
“We created a coaching system around them and also opened a training school to also help others in the sport.”
Davao City’s Shyrah Rizalado topped the girls’ 15-under XCO with a time of 31:01.33, while Iloilo City’s Ysabel Jamero struck gold in the girls’ 12-13 criterion after nailing the fastest finish at 24:48, 1:32 minutes better than Lauren Lee Tan of Ormoc City.
Jamero, a Grade 7 student, first got into cycling during the pandemic, joining her father and uncle in outside tours.
Aklan dominated the first two pencak silat competitions held at the Robinson’s Place Palawan.
Kevin Unilongo recorded 9.940 points in the boy’s junior novice artistic form, while Chantal Jizmundo, who comes from a family of national team athletes, tallied 9.960 points in the girls’ division.
According to the latest medal tally of the Philippine Sports Commission, Quezon City leads the count with 7 golds, 9 silvers, and 12 bronze medals.
Following Quezon City is Pasig (7-4-10), four-time defending champion Baguio City (6-7-8), Muntinlupa (6-5-6), and Paranaque (4-6-4). – Rappler.com
