PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – And still.
Of the 19th direct edition, the National Capital Region (NCR) topped the entire archipelago by dominating the overall awards race in runaway fashion and with 66th Palarong Pambansa at Lipus Makapandong Gov.DO Plaza Sports Complex.
The Metro Stars bagged 91 gold, 70 silver and 71 bronze medals in unofficial tallies on Sunday pending the closing ceremony at press time at the same venue, where Quezon City (QC) of the same region will inherit the torch to host Agusan del Sur.
QC Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday came to lead the transition from Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago B. Cane, Jr. with the hope of surpassing the quality standards set by the province as the first host with new world-class facilities recently built and warm hospitality.
Due to the pursuit of gold in traditional Olympic disciplines such as swimming and running, the victory belonged to the Big City right off the bat, marching unchallenged down South and now heading home to celebrate the 20th.th championship bid in the heart of the country’s largest city.
NCR put the cherry on top with gold medals in secondary girls volleyball led by National University-Nazareth School and secondary boys football led by Far Eastern University-Diliman in the nightcap on Saturday as the tournaments closed.
Metro Manila won back-to-back titles in girls volleyball after a 22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-18 victory over the Negros Island Region, represented by Bacolod Tay Tung High School who dominated Palaro for two years before NCR’s redemption last year in Lacoagte, Lacoagte.
NCR’s wins in these two important team games are more than secondary boys’ basketball, where the team earned a bronze medal. NCR bowed out to former Davao Region champion in the semis, 76-66, but took care of Central Luzon in the third round, 81-74. Calabarzon emerged as the surprise champion with a 79-62 win over Davao to end a 10-year drought.
But the overall crown of NCR had a big mark from Patricia Mae Santor, a successful athlete in the Games, with seven good hauls out of seven in the second girls swimming including two records, for a beautiful swan song in the career of the high school who is also the most successful Batang Pinoy player last year in General Santos City.
Jamesray Mishael Ajido and Ashton Clyde Jose followed with five and four golds respectively, while athletes Franceine Jhobie Rosario and Ma. Lynnette Libranda took home three golds each.
Gymnasts also made their mark with Tchelzy Mei Maayo, Antonette Amante, Sheena Jillianne Ty and Deen Gungob bringing home four golds each.
Meanwhile, Calabarzon maintained its second place with 55-50-60 while Davao Region (34-32-35) stole the thunder from third-place finisher Western Visayas to round out the field.
Western Visayas (31-36-45) slipped to fifth place as Central Visayas placed fourth at 32-30-44. Hosts Caraga impressed with a sixth-place finish after winning gold in football and pet wrestling. – John Bryan Ulanday
