The City of Baguio asserted its dominance as it ruled the Batang Pinoy that came to a close over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The athletes from the country’s Summer Capital emerged with 82 gold, 52 silver and 59 bronze medals to run away with a total of 189 medals in this prestigious tournament that aims to discover and develop future members of the national team from the grassroots level.
Baguio City has been dominating the event for the past five years, thanks to its careful planning, early preparation and excellent sports program.
“The strategy of Baguio is once the invitation is given, the selection process is held early so that we hold our tryouts early and we can build our team,” said Baguio delegation head Gudz Gonzales, who sent around 600 athletes who competed in 23 out of 256 events.
Bulk of the gold medals of Baguio came from combat sports with poomsae jins Kate Julliane Cortez shining in the individual cadet female event, Caleb Angelo Calde in individual cadet male, Acey Kiana Oglayon in individual junior female, and Jaidev Nicolas Montalbo, Marcus Jared Maquiray, and Ryan Cliftin Nabejet joining hands for the team male cadet gold.
Also rising to the occasion were Angel Lyn Yvainne Dacanay and Calde in the mixed pair cadet; Aesha Kiaa Oglayon at Jonas Sales in the mixed pair junior; and Angelyn Yvainne Dacanay, Kate Julliane Cortez and Trisha Lobbonan in the poomsae team female cadet
Pasig City came in second place with 57 gold, 56 silver and 74 bronze medals.
Arvin Taguinota carried the torch for Pasig in the boys swimming event, plucking three gold medals from 50-meter breaststroke, 100m breaststroke and 50-m freestyle events.
