TWO members of Western Visayas’ secondary athletics team were hit with confusion over tournament records released during the 61st Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Negrense Franz Gela Romualdo Bintad was victimized by the wrong input of previous Palaro record in secondary girls discus throw where she had a 36.28-meter hit.
During the event day on Wednesday, the Palaro website showed the previous record as 36 meters courtesy of WV’s Maika de Oro, making Bintad’s performance the new Palaro record. But before the tournament ended, Oro’s 2010 record was adjusted to 40.25 meters.
“I am happy pa rin naman since I got the gold medal in the event,” Bintad told the Buzzer Beater. “Like what I said before, bonus na lang ‘yun kung maka-record and I also look up to Nang Maika.”
“My intention was just to make my exit at the Palarong Pambansa memorable, to make my coaches and trainers happy, to make my parents happy and the Escalantihanons proud,” she added.
The Buzzer Beater tried to reach out to Palarong Pambansa athletics event manager Nicasio Valenzuela since Sunday evening but has not gotten a response.
Another WV athlete who nearly fell prey to the same incident was Ilongga Alexie Mae Caimoso Brooks, who tallied a new Palaro record in secondary girls high jump with her 1.68-meter leap breaking the previous Palaro record of 1.66 meters.
An official from another region tried to contest it claiming that the previous record was 1.69 meters as stated in Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) website but Brooks’ head coach Noel Diel stood pat.
“They are trying to contest it but iba naman ‘yung nasa PATAFA website,” Diel said. “As far as I know, and I have asked the organizers, record-breaker ang performance in Alexie.”
Other members of the WV team who shattered records were Ann Katherine Quitoy in secondary girls javelin throw, Avegail Beliran in elementary girls javelin throw, and the group of Vince Jayson Buhayan, John Christian Mediano, Kennard Alarba and Jeffrey Albania tallying a new Palaro record in secondary boys 4×100 meter relay.
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Two Negros Occidental-based boxers scored emphatic victories while three other suffered stinging defeats during the boxing event on Wednesday evening at La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
La Carlota City-native Adrian Paul Varona (3-7-1 win-loss-draw) snapped his two-game losing skid with a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Alamada, Cotabato-native Robert Ates (4-6-0).
Bacolod City-native Romel Rodondo tallied his second straight victory in three career matches with a close split decision win over La Carlota City-native Junder Gregorio (4-2-0).
Elmer Liboon of Bacolod City (2-8-1), meanwhile, continued his slump with a split decision defeat to Lorenz Ladrada of Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Occidental (5-0-1, 2 KOs).
Mark Mahilum of San Carlos City suffered his third consecutive loss after winning his debut match following a knockout defeat to Jeno Macapobre of Toledo City, Cebu (3-0-0, 2 KOs).
In the other featured match, Esneth Domingo of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat (9-0-0, 5 KOs) scored a knockout victory over Jeffrey Stella of Mandaue, Cebu (4-5-2, 4 KOs).
The five-bout boxing event was presented by the Cebu City-based ALA Boxing Promotions of Michael Aldeguer./PN
