Laguna province showed that it owned Luzon when it dethroned Baguio City in the third and final leg of the 2019 Batang Pinoy qualifiers which ended on Saturday in the City of Ilagan, Isabela.
The athletes from Laguna scooped 38 gold, 35 silver and 35 bronze medals after six days of competition in the premier grassroots tournament of the Philippine Sports Commission.
The dizzying hot weather never bothered the 160 strong delegation of Laguna as they dislodged the last year’s Luzon Leg champion and reigning National Finals titlist Baguio City which settled for second place with a harvest of 36 golds, 47 silvers and 60 bronzes.
Quezon City (24-19-11) placed third, while Pangasinan (23-24-26) and Pasig City (22–24-27) rounded up the top 5 places.
Laguna got most of its medals from swimming where they won 13 golds. The team also dominated pencak silat, badminton and athletics. Baguio City, meanwhile, displayed its mastery in its pet sports boxing and taekwondo.
Dance sports proved to be a bright spot for Quezon City which hauled seven gold medals from the sport.
The medalists from the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao legs will gather in the National Finals in Bacolod City in October when 11 other sports will be played. These are billiards, cycling, gymnastics, judo, muay thai, rugby football, soft tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.
Antipolo City went undefeated in girls volleyball to snatch the gold medal on Saturday. Represented by California Academy and coached by school owner Dr. Obet Vital, Antipolo downed Caloocan, 25-17, 25-20, for its first gold medal in the weeklong competition for in-school and out-of-school children aged 15 and below.
In beach volleyball, Jenaila de Guzman and Keith Leanne Arceo powered Angeles City to a 21-18, 21-17 win over Mandaluyong City to win the gold medal.
Pangasinan province, represented by Milson Janry Galzote and Jayvee Perlasan, beat Olongapo City, 21-15, 22-20, in the gold medal match of boys beach volleyball. Mandaluyong took the bronze.
Brylle Ballester took the gold in the boys 800 m for Laguna, while Magvrylle Chrause Matchino anchored the province’s 4×400-m boys relay team. It was Matchino’s third gold.
Lheslie de Lima of Camarines Sur also bagged his second gold in athletics after ruling the girls 800 m with 2:19.2, beating Matchino (2:21.7) and Ilagan City’s Rebecca Vinuya (2:23.8). De Lima also won the 1500-m event.
The mixed 4×100-m relay team of San Fernando, Pampanga, timed in 49.0 to win the gold over Muntinlupa City (50.4) and Baguio City (51.2). San Fernando also ruled the 4×400-m relay team.
Naga City bagged three golds in futsal, topping the boys 12-under, girls 12-under and girls 13-15 categories, while Pasig City prevailed in the boys 13-15.R