TAGUM CITY”•Chessers Daniel Quizon and Kylen Joy Mordido of Dasmarinas City, Cavite bagged two gold medals Friday in the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy Championships here.
Quizon, a sixth grader from San Miguel Elementary School in Dasmarinas, ruled the boys’ 12-under blitz and standard chess while the 14-year-old Mordido dominated her age bracket in the same events.
Unbeaten in seven games in the blitz, Quizon won via tie break in the standard with four other players in the seven-round Swiss system.
Quizon scored 5.5 points and ended up tied with Clyde Harris Saraos of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental and Pasig City’s Mark Jay Bacojo, among others, in the competition held at the Bulwagang Panlalawigan of Davao Del Norte.
“My dream is to become a grand master,’’ said the 12-year-old, who looks up to GM Eugene Torre and world champion GM Magnus Carlsen as his idols. “I just practice everyday and play with stronger players to reach that dream.’’
Mordido, a Grade 9 student from Dasmarinas National High School, also wound up unbeaten in the girls’ 13-17 blitz and captured the gold in the standard by tie break after scoring 6.5 points, with Glybel Jane Quinanola of Cebu City.
Quizon and Mordido are seeking their third gold medal in the rapid event of the Games designed to discover athletes 17 years old and younger.
Over at the Tagum City trade center, lady grapplers Veronica Ompod (girls’ 40kg) and Rachel Claire Bais (girls’ 44kg) led an avalanche of gold medals for Leyte province in wrestling.
Joining them were Leyte’s Andrea Rowella Abrea (girls’ 51kg), Marielle Jeanna Liwanag (58kg), Angela Alferez (62kg), Ronnel Nerzza (boys’ 35kg) and Francisco Arca (66kg).
Baguio City had two golds on the mat courtesy of Lemuel Dalgo (boys’ 53kg) and Anthonie John Tenollar (boys’ 73kg) as well as Davao City through the efforts of siblings Chino Sy (boys’ 85kg) and Sydney Sy (girls’ 62kg).
Zamboanga City’s Marvi Rivera struck two gold medals in the arnis anyo event after winning the boys’ individual single weapon and individual sword and dagger events, while Baguio also delivered two mints in the boys’ team double weapon and women’s team sword and dagger events.
At the New Tagum City Hall, Leyte judokas Roxan Erica Norte (girls’ -32kg) and Cresphian Caliguid (boys’ -42kg) ruled their weight categories as well as Hannah Mira of Muntinlupa (-36kg), Marvin Adrian Guevarra (boys’ -46kg), Agatha Lucero (girls’ -63kg), Shaira Arabejo (girls’ +36kg) and Sydney Sy (girls’ +70kg) for her second gold in a different combat sport.
Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships silver medalist Ma. Dessa Delos Santos of Zamboanga City dominated the girls’ -58kg weight class after lifting 70 kilograms in the snatch and 85kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 155kgs.
Quezon City’s Eriel Cardano topped the boys’ +58kg with a total lift of 123kgs while John Kevin Padullo of Manila carried a cumulative weight of 245kgs to pocket the boys’ +62kg gold.
