CEBU City – Western Visayas’ elementary boys basketball squad clinched the 2024 Palarong Pambansa basketball crown via a 54-49 triumph against Central Luzon on Monday at the University of Visayas Downtown Arena here.
It was a total domination for the St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets-Elite Lab-represented Region 6 squad.
Bannering the John Guanco-mentored team were Matt Owen Chua, Mark Coronica, Christian Demaisip, Sebastian Jocsing, Den Lamina, John Lelis, Benjamin Madison, Raphael Mendote, Jhude Nerio, Johnry Parcon, Ethan Toledo, and Bjorn Villaluna.
The Western Visayas squad completed a 3-0 sweep of the elimination round, defeating CAVRAA (57-35), CARAGA (63-33) and Central Luzon (59-35), before beating SOCCKSARGEN in the quarterfinals (54-28) and NCR in the semifinals (60-32).
In athletics, Ilongga Princess Mae Lachica added two more golds to her collection after winning the elementary girls 400-meter hurdles and 4×400-meter relay with Chrishia Mabasa, Karen Bala-An, and Ayena Cabalfin.
Ilonggo quartet of Pierre Mahilum, Dan Joseph Baladia, Khrister Phill Bretaña, and Jose Rey Posanso also finished with a gold medal in elementary boys 4×400-meter relay event.
Mico Villaran, on the other hand, fell short of adding another gold to his collection after finishing with silver medal in the secondary boys 4×400-meter relay with Ilonggos Kent Burdan, Kian Labar, and Jhon Masuhol.
Negrenses Cloui Loquias and Chammy Requiron and Ilonggas Shane Bullos and Rhiajane Gardose ended with bronze medal in the secondary girls 4×400-meter relay event.
Negrense swimmer Alexi Kouzenye Cabayaran, meanwhile, finished with a gold medal in the secondary girls 100-meter freestyle before settling for silver in the 50-meter freestyle event.
Cabayaran, who previously represented the country in international competition, earlier captured two gold medals in secondary girls 50-meter backstroke and 4×500 freestyle relay events.
In tennis, La Carlota City’s Kathlyn Bugna won a gold medal in elementary girls singles event, Bacolodnon Maria Divinagracia added a silver in secondary girls singles, and La Carlota’s Jasmine Jaran ended with bronze in secondary girls singles.
In table tennis Lexi Marcella and Bethany Esmeno won a gold in elementary girls doubles, while La Carlota’s Dirk Atilano and Antiqueno Josh Canalin got a bronze in secondary boys doubles event./PN
