(UPDATE) PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Albert Jose Amaro II of Naga City made an impeccable performance after breaking his own two previous records in Batang Pinoy.
The 17-year-old promising tanker shattered his old record in the 100-meter (m) freestyle, clocking in 52.59 seconds — better than his old mark of 53.29 seconds.
He also wiped out his own best time of 24.53 seconds in 50-m freestyle with a new time of 24.32 seconds.
Amaro won seven gold medals in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa held in June.
On the other hand, Mabalacat City’s pride Catherine Cruz also posted a new meet record in the 100-m backstroke with her 1.08.32 time to erase Ishaelle Mae Villa’s 1:09:15 previous record.
The 16-year-old Cruz also topped the 200-m breaststroke (1:06.78), removing Mikaela Talosig’s 2:29.61 last year’s record.
Pasig City’s tankers Sophia Garra and Arvin Naeem Taguinota II clinched their fourth medal in the swimming event.
Taguinota topped the boys’ 100-m backstroke (1:04.30), while Garra dominated the girls’ 100-m backstroke (1:08.77).
Pasig City still leads the medal haul with 41 gold, 24 silver and 44 bronze medals as of Nov. 26, 7 p.m., as Baguio trails behind with a 27-30-34 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.
In archery, Princess Khyra Ramirez clinched three golds in the girls’ compound category.
Alexa Vallesteros of Pasig City, Alexis Patalinghug of Ceby, Julia Bintulan of San Jose and Samhara Carbon of General Santos bagged one gold each in Karate.
Meanwhile, Paying homage to their history, Lapu-Lapu City arnisadors showed that they are from a bloodline of fighters after bagging seven medals in the arnis event.
Formerly known as “Opon,” Lapu-Lapu City, ranked 12th in the overall medal tally (as of Nov. 26), with a total of 12 medals built on a 7-4-1 gold-silver-bronze haul.
With their city named after the national hero Lapu-Lapu, who is one of the forefathers of Arnis, and fought the country’s colonizers on April 27, 1521 — his descendants today did the same in Batang Pinoy, making sure to emerge dominant against their foes in eskrima.
Harvesting all their seven golds in arnis event, head coach Jonel Pepito shared that this is one way of preserving their history.
“I am very proud since we already have seven golds here in Batang Pinoy Arnis. What I instill in my students is that we should be a role model of our ancient warriors. We are the grandsons and granddaughters of our Datu Lapu-Lapu, that thought really gives us strength,” Pepito said proudly.
The Lapu-Lapu arnis team swept the forms traditional competition as Jayn Paller (Cadet-Girls), Clarence Prado (Junior A-Girls), Erica Henza Inoc (Junior B-Girls), Kent Carlo Icot (Cadet-Boys), Charlz Daniel Gulbe (Junior A-Boys) and Dwayne Manaytay (Junior B) all bagged the gold medal in their respective categories.
In the nontraditional forms edition, Kurt Limbaga clinched another gold medal to add to make it seven for Lapu-Lapu.
