Central Visayas rakes gold medals on Day 1 of Palarong Pambansa

Central Visayas (Region VII) pulled off a surprising act on the first day of the 64th Palarong Pambansa, bagging the meet’s first gold medal on Thursday, July 11, at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

So far, Central Visayas has collected 13 gold medals, six silvers, and five bronzes on the first day of the five-day national games.

Leading the region’s gold medal haul was Asia Paraase, who won the meet’s first fold medal early Thursday morning by topping the 3,000-meter secondary girls’ run at the CCSC oval. Other gold medalists included female woodpushers Edelyn Vosotros and Kristina Concepcion Belano, arnisador Nathaniel Abing, and nine golds from dancesport dancers.
Paraase secured the gold medal after clocking in a time of 10:27:36, beating Eastern Visayas’ (Region VIII) Chrishia Mae Tajarros (10:39:72) and Davao Region’s (Region XI) Mary Jane Pagayon (10:52:72).

At the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu, Central Visayas’ chess players Edelyn Vosotros and Kristina Concepcion Belano of the University of Cebu Webmasters delivered two gold medals. Vosotros earned two golds for finishing with a perfect seven points in the blitz category, and she paired with Belano to rule the team with 12 markers.

The region also earned silver medals from Jormaine Pinanonang (100m hurdles elementary girls), Kharis Lark Reil Pantonial (110m hurdles secondary boys), and Kleone Mole (400m freestyle secondary girls’ swimming).

Bronze medals went to Ace Francis Bacongallo (long jump elementary boys) and Kacie Grabrielle Tionko (400m freestyle secondary girls’ swimming).

In dancesport, which is making its debut as a medal sport this year, Francis Dave Sombal and Mitchloni Dinauanao won six gold medals in the secondary Latin event at the GMall of Cebu Activity Center.

Their performances in samba, cha-cha, rumba, paso doble, jive, and the 5-dance were almost flawless.

Danieca Mae Ansay and Nash Daniel Placencia also shone in the elementary Latin contest, winning gold in rumba and jive, along with two silvers and two bronzes in other dances.

Troy Nathaniel Abing from Lapu-Lapu City brought home the region’s 13th gold in individual likha anyo single weapon of elementary boys’ arnis at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The region expects to win more golds in the third day of competition on Friday.