Albay (CNN Philippines) — Defending champion National Capital Region (NCR) retained their title in the 2016 Palarong Pambansa held in held in Legazpi, Albay.
The team amassed a total of 104 gold, 57 silver, and 48 bronze medals. They also topped both levels with an impressive 36-25-18 GSB in the elementary division and 68-32-30 GSB in the secondary division.
The Southern Tagalog region landed second place with 16-17-22 GSB for the elementary level and 24-26-37 GSB for the secondary level, totalling to 40 gold, 43 silver, and 59 bronze medals.
Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association (WVRAA) student-athletes finished third, pocketing a total of 35 gold, 35 silver, and 39 bronze medals.
Of the accumulated medals, the elementary-level athletes ranked second place with a 19-12-23 GSB (gold, silver, bronze win). The secondary division won third place with 16 gold, 23 silver and 16 bronze medals.
The Negros Island Region (NIR), a new competitor, also shined in some of the games despite the separation of Western Visayas.
Composed of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, the team ranked sixth with a total of 21 gold, 28 silver and 39 bronze medals. They were also recognized for being the cleanest delegation and the most disciplined region.
WVRAA runners, jumpers rule Athletics leg
The WVRAA bagged the championship of the Athletics leg of this year’s event.
Despite their third-place finish in the regular games, WVRAA’s runners, jumpers and throwers successfully ruled the track and field events.
WVRAA sprinters were led by Iloilo National High School (INHS) students: jumper Ezel Villagoniza, who won two gold medals and runner Ezel Divinagracia, who won the gold medal in the secondary girls’ 100-meter hurdle despite a hamstring injury.
Her teammates Lejany Salafrana and Berna Luz Talaron won silver and bronze medals in the 100-meter hurdle, respectively.
Leon native RG Lyn Cabillan earned two gold medals in long jump and triple jump events while Carles runner Nica Bermudez snatched the bronze medal in the 100m elementary girls.
Elementary students Casandra Valerie Hunggo and Nelmar May Peregil both nabbed bronze medals in their respective sports: shot put and discus throwing.
Junelyn Garcia and Edna Magtubo of Barosbos Elementary School in Carles also clinched the gold and bronze medals, respectively in the 1500-meter race.
John Dave Daras of Dingle Central School in Iloilo, who won the first gold for WV’s elementary division, improved his record in long jump with a 5.6-meter finish.
Iloilo City-based journalist Elyrose Naorbe contributed to this report.
