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By Frank Calapre ,Correspondent
VIGAN City: Bulacan’s Jessie
King Lacuna won 13 golds in swimming even as Baguio City was crowned
overall champion at the close of the 2nd Philippine Olympic Festival
Central/Northern Luzon/ Cordillera Qualifying Games Sunday at the
Quirino Sports Center here.
The 13-year-old King, who
captured 8 golds on Saturday, added five more on the final day to
earn the Most Valuable Player award in the week-long meet, which
will send the top two players in each of the 17 sports disciplines
to the National Championships slated to be held in Manila on October
1 to 7.
“I also won seven golds in the
CLRAA regional meet. Maybe, it’s because of our preparations for
the coming Palarong Pambansa that made me stronger this time,”
said Lacuna, a high school freshman at Bulacan State University.
Jolina Kay Portacio of Zambales
was the girls division’s most bemedalled swimmer after hauling 11
golds and three silvers while Paula Isabel Ordono of La Union
finished second with 9 golds.
“I never thought of getting
more than one gold. I just did my best. I’d like to thank my
parents for supporting me in this sport I love so dearly,” said
the 14-year-old Portacio, a high school sophomore at St. Joseph
College in Olongapo City.
Both King and Portacio are
competing in this year’s Palarong Pambansa slated April 22 to 28
in Koronadal, South Cotabato.
Baguio City, which only fielded
nine swimmers, won two more golds in the final day to claim the
overall crown with a total of 76 golds, 65 silvers and 64 bronzes.
“I never thought we will win
the overall crown because we just came from the CARAA and we don’t
have anymore budget for the POF. So I have to find a way for us to
still participate here even with a small delegation only,” said
Mayor Rey Bautista of Baguio City.
Pangasinan, who topped the
athletics competition, was second overall with 55 golds, 27 silvers
and 37 bronzes followed by La Union, champion in swimming, with 40
golds, 34 silvers and 30 bronzes.
Bulacan, which topped gymnastics,
finished fourth with 36-34-30 while Nueva Ecija was fifth with
33-22-26.
Rounding out the Top 10 are
Zambales (25-19-13), Ilocos Norte (20-17-23), Angeles City
(16-10-15), host Ilocos Sur (12-20-26) and Cagayan Province
(9-16-22).
“If we can find a budget to
construct a P250 million track oval at the athletics bowl near
Burnham Park, then I would like to bid for the hosting of the POF
next year,” added Mayor Bautista, whose son Reynaldo III ruled the
boys’ 10-under 200-m freestyle.
La Union, a seaside province
facing East of Northern Luzon, dominated the swimming event with a
total of 31 golds. Zambales was second with 26 followed by
Pangasinan (19) and Bulacan (16).
Baseball champion Nueva Ecija
also ruled karatedo with 7 golds. Angeles City was second with 6
golds followed by Baguio with four while Dagupan and La Union two
each.
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