2013 Palarong Pambansa

Gold for Aklan javelin thrower, four athletic golds for WV in opening day

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Her dream of winning an elusive gold in javelin throw in Palarong Pambansa finally came to an end.

Western Visayas captured the first gold medal in athletics courtesy of Aklan bet Jerremay Rubias in the javelin throw event at the start of the annual sporting event at Gov. Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium in Dumaguete City.

The left-handed Rubias, a student from Tangalan National High School, heaved the javelin over 39.59 meters to snatch the secondary girls javelin gold, besting Caraga region Rinalyn Apos’ 37.89  meters and Cagayan Valley’s Jovelyn Notario 36.05 meters.

Three years ago, Rubias grabbed the silver in the elementary javelin throw in San Jose, Tarlac Palarong Pambansa in 35.63 meters.

The 15-year old javelin thrower from Tondog, Tangalan, Aklan actually defended the javelin throw title of Western Visayas after Evalyn Palabrica of Iloilo reigned the event in Lingayen, Pangasinan last year in 39.61 meters.

Rubias also improved her personal best from 36.50 meters in the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) meet last February in Roxas City in snatching the gold in javelin throw.

The standing record was set by Stephanie Cimatu of Ilocos Region who heaved a Palarong Pambansa best of 41.27 meters in Dapitan City meet two years ago.

In 2010, Cimatu also established her personal best of 38.9 meters in San Jose, Tarlac to claim the gold.

Meanwhile, Western Visayas hauled three more gold medals and a bronze in the centerpiece events of athletics.

Ilonggo athlete from Cambito National High School-Iloilo Renzy John Gemolaga triumphed in secondary boys shot put in 13.65 meters.

Bryan Jay Pacheco of Central Luzon finished with a silver in 13.37 meters and Garry Santiago, Jr. of National Capital Region took the bronze in 13.36 meters.

Mary Anthony Diestro from Bacolod Tay Tung High School snared the gold in triple jump secondary girls with 11.61 meters over Cagayan Valley’s bet Jessa Mayor with 11.31 meters.

Judy Mae Almasa of Northern Mindanao settled for bronze in 11.24 meters.

Mark Ian Bautista of San Enrique Central School-Iloilo won the elementary boys triple jump with his 12.31 meters effort.

Davao region Jay Paul Arpon settled for silver with 12.01 meters.

Bautista’s teammate Gericho Sasi from San Joaquin Central Elementary School-Iloilo came in third with 11.75 meters.

In other games, Western Visayas cagers outclassed Ilocos Region, 74-57 and Zamboanga Peninsula, 74-44, in the opening games of secondary boys basketball, to lead Bracket C with two wins.

In the distaff side, Western Visayas cagebelles dumped Mimaropa, 76-38 in their lone game.

In secondary boys baseball, Western Visayas defeated Mimaropa, 7-2. Western Visayas footballers outpointed Cagayan Valley, 2-1.

In sepak takraw, WV downed Bicol region, 2-1. Western Visayas also blanked Mimaropa, 5-0 in softball.

Western Visayas defeated Zamboanga Peninsula, 25-16, 24-26, 25-18 and overpowered Cordillera Administrative Region in straight sets, 25-9, 25-11 in boys volleyball secondary.

Western Visayas also pulled off a dramatic victory over Central Luzon, 25-20, 25-16 in volleyball girls secondary.