By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Thrower Airex Gabriel Villanueva, competing for Iloilo province, secured a gold medal in the 2023 Batang Pinoy National Championships at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City on Wednesday afternoon, December 20.
Villanueva, originally from Bacolod City, tallied a personal best distance of 44.69 meters to secure a gold medal finish in the junior men’s discus throw event of the week-long tournament.
The Romanito P. Maravilla Sr. National High School standout was supposed to represent Bacolod, but the local government unit cancelled the under-20 athletes’ participation due to lack of funding, forcing him to compete for Iloilo.
In arnis, Iloilo City secured a gold medal finish from Shantal Vistal in the 10-12 girls padded stick event.
Nathan Zal Allona also got a gold in the 7-9 single weapon, same as Dariella Sina-on on the girls’ side.
Nathalie Balajadia settled for a silver medal in the 13-15 double baston (non-traditional), while Leala Devynn de la Gente also captured a bronze in the 7-9 double weapon (non-traditional) anyo.
Rova Maicel Alamon of Iloilo City chipped in a bronze medal in the 7-9 girls padded stick event, as Nathan Balajadia also ended up with a bronze in the 10-12 single baston (traditional).
Hyarmel Harder of Iloilo City won a gold medal in the 16-17 men’s individual time trial, while Matthew John Tano (14-under boys individual time trial) and Ysabel Nicole Jamero (14-under girls individual time trial) settled for silver finishes.
Also with gold medals for Team Iloilo are Izubel Anne Pauchano in the 16-17 women’s road race, while Austin Gaius Resol also ended up with a gold medal in the 7-9 labanan event.
Team Iloilo got three taekwondo bronzes from Cy Aldous Bela-ong – Espinoza (cadete -152 kilogram), Djezelree Clavel (middleweight category) and Hannah Dello (fourth category), and another bronze in kumite from Archail Monton.
At the Tagaytay City BMX Park, Guimaras province celebrated two gold medals, courtesy of Gremarc Gyan dela Gente in the boys 14-15 category, and Ben Rian Babica in the boys 16-17 category./ASC, WDJ