SAN JOSE, Antique – Iloilo Giants continued their gold medal haul in the elementary and secondary athletics events of the 2025 WVRAA Meet on Wednesday at the Binirayan Sports Complex here.
Franklin Catera of Tigbauan, Iloilo bested other contingents in secondary boys high jump with his 1.95-meter leap, while Kurt David Torre ruled the elementary boys javelin throw.
Kian Labar of Dingle (secondary boys), Ayena Cabalfin of Carles (elementary girls), and Rhia Jane Gardose of San Dionisio (secondary girls) took home three gold medals in the 400-meter run.
Efren Gempeson Jr. of Ajuy and Axel Mark Garcia of Carles, on the other hand, captured the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the elementary boys 400-meter dash.
Ilongga Jewel Cordova also bagged a gold medal in the secondary girls 3,000-meter run event, while Eda Mae Arceo emerged on top in the elementary girls 100-meter hurdles event.
Negros Occidental’s Divine Pablito captured a gold medal in secondary girls shot put before settling for a silver medal in discus throw behind fellow Negrense Marianne Faith Pedales.
Negrense Nico Villaran, meanwhile, emerged on top in secondary boys 110-m hurdles, while Angel Jaron also had a gold medal finish in elementary girls long jump.
Capiznon Chrisly Dolor won two golds in elementary boys triple jump and long jump events, Jhon Olido ruled the elementary boys 110 meter hurdles and Angel Villagracia topped the secondary girls 100-meter hurdles.
Aklanons Jan Dimalanta and Neyto Sarabia, on the other hand, bagged gold medals each in secondary boys discus throw and shot put, respectively.
In the tennis event, Maria Alexandra Onte nipped her opponent from Negros Occidental, 8-7, in the girls singles finale, while Anthony Bjorn Castigador crushed his fellow Ilonggo Jan Ian Ituriaga, 8-2, in the boys finals.
In Arnis, Ilonggo Melchor Batalcan took home five golds in individual likha anyo single weapon, double weapon, espada y daga, and likha anyo single and double weapon (with Sam Pasaporte and Nathan Allona).
Trisha Mae Sales, meanwhile, clinched three gold medals in elementary girls individual likha anyo single weapon and espada y daga and Likha Anyo single weapon (with Leala dela Gente and Precious Miranda).
Marc Christian Judicpa won three golds in individual likha anyo double weapon and team single and double weapon (with Christian Rein Hubas and Charlemagne Vidal), while Diofe Fenis ruled the secondary boys individual espada y daga.
Negros Occidental got three arnis golds from Renalyn Cornel, Johnmae Micoyco, and Janeth Gasapo (secondary girls team likha anyo single and double weapon), and Chrishell Duran, Cathylea de Emos, and Franzen Aguillon (elementary team double weapon).
Also with arnis golds were Rein Montero of Antique (secondary girls individual likha anyo espada y daga), Calexta Fernandez of Aklan (secondary girls individual likha anyo double weapon) and Alexandrea Raymundo of Guimaras (elementary girls individual likha anyo double weapon).
In taekwondo, Iloilo captured gold medals from Lindsy Lorraine Degayo and Arvin Kirk Derayunan in secondary poomsae mixed pair, and Derayunan, El-Haj Hassan Hatem, and Airon Aguana in secondary boys team poomsae.
Merishka Ablao of Capiz won two golds in the secondary girls individual poomsae and team poomsae with Alexandria Ignacio and Geramiel Tomulto, while Aklan’s Fritz Laderas topped the secondary boys individual poomsae.
Aklan dominated pencak silat with golds from Stephanie Cipriano and Lyca Pascual (secondary girls ganda), John Jems Jizmundo, Kent Berlandino, and Justin Patron (secondary boys ganda and regu), Zyche Jizmundo, Danica Rebanio and Hamillyne Prado (secondary girls regu) and Mickael Malik (secondary boys tunggal)
In gymnastics, Negrenses Harmony Garbanzos (elementary girls individual all-around and ball), and Matthew Efenio (secondary girls ribbon and individual all around) bagged two golds each.
In archery, Iloilo’s Rapha Velasquez and Jeorge Duerme bagged gold and silver in secondary boys 30-meter event, while Negros Occidental’s Isabella Ejercito and Kiesha Lacson won gold and bronze, respectively, on the distaff side.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental elementary and secondary girls volleyball teams, represented by Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, both moved on to the gold medal round after beating their semifinals foes on Wednesday./PN
