Cebu City—Two female fighters from Cagayan de Oro City came through with convincing wins to earn gold medals in the women’s division of the 2018 Philippine National Games yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum here.
Their impressive showings came as host Cebu City ended the five-day meet by formally taking the no. 1 spot in the overall medal race with 38 golds, 54 silvers and 58 bronzes.
Eighteen-year-old Elaide Pamisa followed his uncle’s advise to the letter as she and Jima Baja dominated the women’s light-flyweight and flyweight classes, respectively.
Pamisa, an 11th grade student from Upper Carmen, engaged Leyte’s Myra Nacario in a furious exchange of blows and came out on top to win on points, 4-1.
Baja, a member of the national team now based in Baguio City, handed Cagayan de Oro a second gold, after defied Leyte bet Judy Ann Orbeta’s long reach for a 5-0 shutout.
For Pamisa, she exacted sweet revenge on her loss to Nacario, who beat her in their last encounter in the recent Batang Pinoy.
On the other hand, Baja outfought her taller rival, by sticking close with her body punches.
“Sakto lang ang preparation nila. Kung kukunin, kailangan distansiyahan. Kung bitaw ng jab ang kalaban, bitaw sila ng tatlo,” said CDO coach Elmer Pamisa.
Cebu City earned most of its gold medals in athletics, with unheralded Ronette Ayuda, a graduating student in Bachelor of Science in Education major in Physical Education at the University of San Carlos, topping the senior women’s high jump.
Cebu was also led by Prince Joey Lee from Toledo City, who took the men’s 10,000-meter run honors, along with Riza Jane Valiente, a gold medalist in the girls’ 400-meter hurdles, and Seth Pilapil in the junior boys’ 200-meter run.
Baguio City placed second (34-32-40), while Mandaluyong City ranked third (23-13-18). General Santos City (16-22-27) and Zamboanga (14-6-13) rounded out the Top 5.
Cebu City took a gold in karatedo when James de los Santos, who is seeking a a medal in the 18th Asian Games, displayed his sharp form and technique when he dominated the men’s senior individual kata for his sixth straight medal in the meet.
Baguio City got support from Kareel Meer Hongitan, while promising Andrea Robles lifted Muntinlupa City by posting upsets in the archery competition.
The 18-year-old Hongitan prevailed over 2017 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Nicole Marie Tagle of Dumaguete City in the recurve open women’s category 72 arrows, 628-617.
Hongitan teamed up with Cleanard Hidalgo in the recurve mixed team event open category for the gold before they settled for the silver in the women team event open.
Robles later beat national squad member Jennifer Chan of Negros Occidental, 140-136, compound women’s Olympic Round at the Ramon Durano Seniors Sports Complex in Danao City, Cebu.
Florante Matan of Quezon City also claimed an upset win over national teammates and two-time Olympian Mark Javier in the recurve men Open Olympic Round via shoot-off.
