BACOLOD – Army cadet Kervin Dinzon captured the first gold, while Navy cadet Marvic Iguidez completed a golden treble as hostilities in the Philippine Reserve Officers Training Corp Games Visayan qualifiers began here Monday.
A freshman student in BS Industrial Education at the Iloilo Science and Technology University in Iloilo City, Dinzon, 19, was the easy winner in the boys’ 200-meter individual medley with a time of three minute and 4.71 seconds, while University of Antique’s Renz Espanueva was a far second (4:02.09).
Fellow army bet Angela Maree Tabia topped the distaff side to complete an ISAT sweep of the event, also winning by a mile over runner-up Hyacinth Mondejar (5:24.73) in the competition supported by the Department of National Defense and Commission on Higher Education.
But the spotlight fell on Iguidez, who emerged from the Victoria City Aquatics Center pool in neighboring Victorias City with golds in the boys’ 100-meter freestyle (1:04.58), 50-meter butterfly (31.20) and 50-meter backstroke (32.30) in the meet likewise backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the office of Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.
“Sobrang saya kasi lahat ng hard work ko po nagbunga,” said Iguidez, who enrolled in the ROTC program to further his athletic career after bringing home two swimming relay golds in the 2023 State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association National Games held at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac a year ago.
“Natuto rin ako ng discipline and time management dahil sa ROTC,” added the athlete, who will aim to sweep all of his events in competing in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke events Tuesday before going back to Iloilo for his final exams.
Competing barely minutes in-between his first two events, Iguidez was given a lifeline after organizers allowed a 30-minute before resuming the competition for his third and final event of the day in the meet also backed by the Bacolod City government led by Mayor Albee Benitez
“Mabuti na lang nanalo si Marvic sa amin. We tried to field 10 swimmers but only he managed to make the CHED qualifying standards,” disclosed ISAT swimming coach Mark Catalan of his prized ward.
Dinzon also won the men’s 100-meter freestyle (1:17.20), but failed to match Iguidez’s three mints in settling for silver in the boys’ 50-meter butterfly (33.56) behind Jehtro Yaun (29.44) in the sportsfest targeted at boosting the ROTC program through healthy and fair competition.
In a rare occurrence in any meet, Tabia’s twin sister, Mary Angelee, capped swimming action in ruling the girls’ 200-meter backstroke (3:58.10).
Meanwhile, track and field competitions gets under way Tuesday with five final evens at the Panaad Park and Sports Complex track oval located on the outskirts of the Negros Occidental provincial capital.
On tap are the finals in the men’s and women’s 100-meter dash, 1,500-meter, 4×400-meter relays and long jump.
Taekwondo also unwraps Tuesday at the Robinsons Mall Activity Center.
