VIGAN, Ilocos Sur ― The City of General Santos placed third behind pacesetting Quezon City (10-4-3) and third-running City of Baguio (7-6-8) with a 7-4-4 gold-silver-bronze record on the third day of the 2022 Batang Pinoy National Championships at Quirino Stadium here.
Gensan, which is the hometown of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, could attribute its sudden rise in the medal standing to another combat sport known as Muay Thai.
“Lima sa pitong gold ng Gensan came from Muay Thai which is among the virtual sports that are counted for the medal tally. Magaling sila in demonstrating form and kata,” shared veteran sports scribe Joey Villar of the Philippines Star.
Five more delegation teams from Mindanao made it to the gold medal standing with the City of Davao’s three, including five silvers and 13 bronzes that put the Davawenyos in eighth place.
The City of Zamboanga checked in at 15th with a 2-2-1 output, followed by South Cotabato (1-4-3), Sultan Kudarat (1-1), and Misamis Oriental powered by lone gold-taker Marc Angelo Cabiluna in athletics.
The 15-year-old Cabiluna from Villanueva National High School hopes to duplicate his gold finish in the long jump when he competes anew in his favorite triple jump event tomorrow morning.
“Paborito nako both ang long jump and triple jump, I'm excited waiting for my next competition on Tuesday morning,” Cabiluna told Gold Star Daily.
A total of 36 local government units across the nation compete in this week-long event for grassroots talents that produces the likes of world gymnast champion Carlos Yulo and Olympics boxing silver medalist Nesthy Petecio.
