ILAGAN CITY—Quezon City dislodged defending champion Baguio City atop the medal tally board with victories in dancesports in the final stretch of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg on Thursday.
The competitive dancers from the City of Stars amassed seven gold medals in several classes of junior standard, juvenile standard and juvenile latin to emerge on top with 23 gold, 15 silver and nine bronze medals.
Laguna province came second with 22 golds, 28 silvers and 23 bronzes—a tally highlighted by 13 golds, 20 silvers and 12 bronzes in the swimming competitions.
Baguio City was previously in good position to retain the overall title but teams from the National Capital Region stole the thunder with impressive campaigns in the multisport tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Against the blistering summer heat, Baguio City athletes landed in third place with victories in taekwondo and archery.
Used to cold weather in the mountains, the reigning titlists raked up 20 golds, 21 silvers and 46 bronzes after four days of competition.
Jins from the Summer Capital took 11 golds in poomsae and kyorugi, while Alon Yuan Jucutan led the charge with three gold medals in boys’ cub events as his team tallied seven golds in archery.
Following suit in the medal standings were Pasig City (15-17-14) and Taguig City (11-13-12).
Parañaque City, which placed second in swimming with a 10-1-1 gold-silver-bronze tally, got the bounty from young tankers Mark Bryan Dula and Micaela Jasmine Modjeh, who each had five golds along with Aubrey Tom of Cainta, Rizal.
Justin Angelo Muñoz of Pangasinan province and Erica Marie Ruto of Calamba City became the fastest athletes in Luzon after their close wins in 100m of athletics.
Muñoz clocked 11.2 seconds—just two-tenths better than Pasig City’s John Dave Magtangob—to dominate the boys 100m.
The 14-year-old student of Virgen Milagrosa University said his victory was fueled by his 10-month training for his first Batang Pinoy.
“Lord was with me during the race. I’m happy because this is just my first time here,” Muñoz said.
Franz Michael Matos of San Fernando, Pampanga, took bronze in 11.76 seconds.
In the girls century, Ruto clocked 12.6 seconds to outsprint Kyla Elona (12.8 seconds) of Laguna province and Reah Bacani (12.9 seconds) of Ilagan City.
The daughter of a tricycle driver and a plain housewife dedicated her win to her parents.
“This is for them. They are always supporting me,” Ruto said.