Asian Games-bound bets Elreen Ann Ando and Ellen Rose Perez gave it their best shot as they claimed gold medals last Sunday in the 2018 Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Open Championships at the Meralco Fitness Center in Ortigas, Pasig.
The 19-year-old Ando, who is one of four additional entries to the national squad that will go the Asiad in Indonesia, led her teammates from Cebu by topping the women’s 63-kg event with a total lift of 200-kgs.
This was after Ando, a senior high school student at University of Cebu, lifted 90 kgs in her third attempt in the snatch, and 100-kgs in the clean and jerk during her turn at the stage in this tournament presented by the MVP Sports Foundation and Meralco.
Her efforts bested her Hong Kong rival Supawon Hui, who tallied 137, and local bet Sonia Pascual, who submitted 123.
“Sabi ni coach, palagi kong kunin ang mga personal best para sure na ako sa Asian Games,” said Ando.
Perez, who hails from Tagbilaran, Bohol, impressed with her total lift of 155 kg. that gave her the gold in the women’s 53 kg.
Singaporean Sheryl Wei Foo was among five foreign entries who took home a gold by ruling the women’s 75 kg category, with her personal best of 81 in the clean and jerk giving her total of 146.
Woo was way ahead of PEP lifter Marie Justine Talamayan with her 115.
Foo’s coach Lewis Chua also earned a gold medal on the men’s 105 kg after topping Jess Adaptar of Bohol.
Guam lifter Jacinta Sumagaysay prevailed over Daryl Banania of the University of the East with her 160-kg tally in the women’s 58 kg.
Sumagaysay’s teammate Raymond Santos asserted himself in the men’s 69 kg action.
Meanwhile, Margaret Colonia of Zamboanga retained the women’s 79-kg honors by equaling her total of 170 last year, while teammate Mary Flor Diaz came up with another 148-kg tally to reclaim the 48-kg gold.
In men’s action, Cebuano John Ceniza claimed the gold in 56-kg class at 235, while Aaron de la Cruz had a 178 in the junior men’s 69-kg side, even as Hong Kong Anton Jefferson (255) outclassed Hungduan lifter Jones Bodah (254).
Joseph Mangulabnan of Davao City, John Kevin Padullo of UE, Dwayne Factor and Ronald Colonia of SSF made their presence felt in the 77 kg, 94 and 85 kg classes, respectively.
Benjie Payay of Hungduan dominated the men’s 62kg side.