Catanduanes wins more golds but slips back to 10th place in 2024 Palarong Bicol

With some of its vaunted medal contenders in individual and sports events failing to secure golds, the 550-strong Catanduanes delegation to the 2024 Palarong Bicol that ended Saturday placed 10^th among the 13 divisions.

This is a spot lower than the 9^th place the Catanduanes Schools Division Office held in the Modified Palarong Bicol 2023.

This year, it garnered a total medal haul of 13 golds, 13 silvers and 32 bronzes, which is better than the nine golds, 15 silvers and 17 bronzes it won last year.

SDO Naga City retained the overall championship in the regular sports with 74 golds, 55 silvers and 63 bronzes; followed by SDO Albay with 70 golds, 69 silvers and 76 bronzes; SDO Camarines Norte with 59 holds, 60 silvers and 52 bronzes; SDO Camarines Sur with 41 bronzes, 78 silvers and 77 bronzes; and SDO Ligao City, with 41 golds, 28 silvers and 18 bronzes.

Here’s how the rest of the 13-division field fared: 6^th – SDO Legazpi City (35-39-36); 7^th – SDO Sorsogon (27-19-41); 8^th – SDO Masbate (19-23-34); 9^th – SDO Tabaco City (18-16-27); 10^th – SDO Catanduanes (13-13-32); 11^th – SDO Sorsogon City (11-4-23); 12^th – SDO Iriga City (7-7-14); and 13^th – SDO Masbate City (6-7-14).

In the elementary level, Catanduanes actually ranked 6^th, with 11 golds, five (5) silvers and 18 bronzes but was dragged down by the secondary athletes’ 13^th place with just two (2) golds, eight (8) silvers and 14 bronzes.

In the demonstration sports for secondary athletes, which do not count in the overall championship for regular sports, the island’s delegation ended up 6^th, with a total of three (3) silvers and nine (9) bronzes.

In 2023, Catanduanes won six (6) golds, five (5) silvers and six (6) bronzes in the demo sports.

In the Para Games this year, the delegation had a better performance with two (2) golds, one (1) silver and two (2) bronzes, compared to its zero medal haul in 2023.

As of press time last Monday afternoon, the official list of medal winners was not yet available at the DepEd Catanduanes Schools Division Office.

Among the gold medalists were runner Jejireh Alcantara of Pandan School of Arts and Trades who ruled the 100-meter dash in 10.72 seconds but settled for silver in the 200-meter dash; Yocti Elementary School’s Raphael Ibatuan, Daniel Timbal, Jereco Zuniega Jr. and John Paul Salvador, who snared two golds in sepak takraw junior doubles; Antipolo ES softballers who defeated Camarines Sur, 3-2, in the finals; the Viga RDHS quartet of Ken Saurin Maborrang, France John Kirby Omanad, Mark Edzil Morales and Daniel Joseph Tumazar who stamped their class in secondary boys’ 3×3 basketball; elementary tanker James Valenzuela who surprised the field with his first-place finish in 100-meter breaststroke; and Guinobatan ES gymnasts Chloe Mae Tabor, Charm Yvonne Petajen and Lloyd Patrick Villafranca om Aerobic Gymnastics;

Consoling themselves with silver hardware were boxing brothers Yurrico Cain and B’shounen Subion of Palta NHS; three in taekwondo from Juliana Hillary Isidoro, Jayson Guerrero and Kirsten Izabel Templonuevo; Danwel Rafael of Magsaysay ES in javelin throw; John Gil Trinidad of Leandro I. Verceles Sr. NHS in shot put; Edwin Jimenez Jr. in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) Mushroom; Merrydel Ann Santos and Jewel Psalm Tatad of Calatagan HS in tennis doubles; swimmers Aljor Fernandez, James Valenzuela, Hervin Jhan Fernandez and Roy Torzar Jr. in 4×50 meter relay; and Lois Alexen Tud of Tambongon ES in long jump.

The much-vaunted baseball teams from Buyo Integrated School fell short of their golden goal but salvaged bronze medals, defeating Camarines Sur, 7-6, in the secondary boys and overwhelming Albay, 11-4, in the elementary boys.

Also failing to nail a second straight Palarong Pambansa slot was Jenny Rose Tupig of Buenavista ES had bronze in the 400-meter dash.

Despite scoring a tournament-high 32 goals in three games, the CNHS futsal team settled for bronze by plastering Camarines Norte, 6-1.

Among the other bronze medal winners were the CNHS football team, boxing’s John Vincent Caldea of Codon NHS and Archie Subion II of Palta NHS; Kristoff Eddie Leonardo San Miguel RDHS in table tennis singles; Franz Gilbert Aquino of Panganiban NHS and Domingo Kenneth Jr. Caranguian of Bagamanoc RDHS in taekwondo; John Joseph Santelices, CJ Vincent Crispino, Jims Jairus Timajo and John Reniel Avila in secondary archery team event; Steffano Arcilla of Magnesia ES and Adrian Siwane of Magnesia NHS) in table tennis;

SAVS’ Cheeridyn Camacho, Rovelyn Sontillano, Jonna Mae Sambo and Irish Chloe Solo in sepak takraw doubles; elementary swimmers Aljor Fernandez, James Valenzuela, Hervin Jhan Fernandez and Roy Torzar in 4×100 meter relay; the Viga Central ES volleybelles who scraped by Camarines Sur for the bronze; four bronzes from badminton players Jay Dellosa of Pandan CES in singles, Catherine Bonayon and Crizanel Atencia of Bagamanoc CES in doubles, John Robin Camacho and Catherine Bonayon in mixed doubles, and John Robin Camacho and Shan Joshua Chavez of Gigmoto ES in doubles; swimmer Jamila Pamela Guerrero snatched the same medal in 50-meter backstroke; Edwin Jimenez Jr. in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) Individual All Around; Sandy Cueva Jr. of San Jose (Oco) NHS in 9-ball billiards; swimmer James Valenzuela in 50-meter breaststroke; Aljay Gonzales and Irianne Ysabelle Camacho in elementary tennis mixed doubles: Denise Angel Tapia and Ella Mae Co in elementary tennis doubles; and Jois Alexen Tud of Tambongon ES in 100-meter dash.

The delegation’s most bemedalled athletes were in the demonstration sport of dancesports where Christopher Manlangit and Patricia Arlet Sy of Cavinitan ES won six golds in Juvenile Standard Grade E Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz and Juvenile Standard Grade A.

Their teammates Arnold dela Cruz Jr. and Aimee Camille Teaño won two bronzes in Grade E Jive and Grade A Jive while Samuel Tatel and Samantha Jane Cabarles won bronze in Junior Modern Standard Grade E Quickstep.

Pencak silat competitors delivered three silvers, and eight bronzes courtesy of Lester Naing, Mark Tumazar, John Lee Villafuerte, Angeline Nicole Peña, Ma. Chariesse Tubale, Cyrielle Rose Tabor, Hazel Villacorta, Lyle Andrei Villena, Princess Farah Ronea Tubeo, and Vince Hermil Tumagan.

In the special game of bocce, Rosemarie Rubia and Christian Jake Tomagan both earned a bronze medal in singles.

In the Para Games, Loyd Rodriguez of Cabugao IS triumphed in shotput and standing long jump for two golds, plus a silver in the 100-meter dash.