BEMEDALLED SWIMMER. Jomarie Berja of Davao Region with his seven medals. (Photo by Jean Malanum)
TAGBILARAN CITY -- Jomarie Berja of Davao (Region 11) bagged five golds and two silvers to become the most bemedalled swimmer in the youth boys category of the Private Schools Athletic Association Sports Foundation, Inc. (PRISAA) National Games here.
The 17-year-old athlete from Barangay Lambajon in Davao Oriental topped the 100-m breaststroke (1:13.13), 200-m breaststroke (2:43.85), 200-m Individual Medley (2:27.09), 400-m Individual Medley (5:26.76) and 200-m Medley relay (2:02.93) events at the University of Bohol's Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center swimming pool. His two silver medals came from the 200-m freestyle (2:13.03) and the 200-m freestyle relay (1:52.79) events.
His teammates in the 200-m Medley Relay are Selwyn Rex Cirunay, Blu Cabilete and Altedy Jamesa Sumaoy, while the other swimmers in the 200-m freestyle relay team are Cabilete, Cirunay and Geroge Karlo Paglinawan.
"I was motivated to win here because I did not get any medal in Vigan," said Berja, a member of the 4 x 50 medley relay squad which placed fourth in the Palarong Pambansa last week.
"This is my first time competing in PRISAA and I'm happy that I was able to get five golds and two silvers. I would like to dedicate my victory to God for giving me the talent and my family," said the incoming Grade 11 student at the Maryknoll School of Lambajon in Baganga town.
The 5-foot-6 Berja, whose favorite event is breaststroke, has been training under SPO2 Emilio Lim since he learned to swim eight years ago.
"On weekdays, I swim for one hour in the morning one hour in the afternoon. On weekends, I spend three hours in the pool only in the morning," said Berja, who won one gold (200-m breaststroke) and two silvers (100-m breaststroke and 100-m freestyle) in the Davao Regional Athletic Association last February.
"I hope to compete in other tournaments and win," said Berja, the youngest of six siblings. His father is a mechanic while his mother is a plain housewife.
Meanwhile, Ranjo Gil Napoles of Soccsksargen (Region 12) defeated Mark Anoy Austria of Davao by unanimous decision to clinch the gold medal in the senior boys 69kgs division of the boxing competition held at the Bohol Island State University.
Other winners were SOCCSKSARGEN's Reymark Jan Ibones (60kgs) and Central Visayas bets Seth Gentallan (46kgs), Marco Romar (52kgs), Regie Suganob (49kgs), Rodel Suganob (56kgs), Cherwellah Cantel (64kgs) and Gilbert Arceo (75kgs).
In taekwondo poomsae (form), Aldrein Abrio of Central Visayas won the individual gold in Group A while Marc Colin Luzada of Northern Mindanao topped Group B in the senior boys division. Mikee Rose Regala (Group A) and Menchit Macasero (Group B) were the winners in the senior girls division.
In the team event, Bicol Region bagged the senior boys gold while Soccsksargen ruled the senior girls as well as the mixed team event.
In the juniors division, Emmanuel Christopher Austria of Bicol Region (Group A) and Kyslev Guzman of Cagayan Valley (Group B) won the gold in the individual boys category. Jammie Hannah Agaloos (Group A) and Cindy Joy Diasnes (Group B) of Central Visayas won the individual girls category. Central Visayas also took the gold medals in the boys, girls and mixed team events.
In karatedo kata (form) event, Central Visayas grabbed four golds coming from the Tracy Lynne Basalo (individual senior girls category), Gerald Baclaan (individual youth boys category), team senior girls category and team senior boys category.
Edcel Maribojoc of Northern Mindanao (Region 10) won the individual senior boys gold medal, while Darlene Rose Mara Mara of Davao (Region 11) won the individual youth girls gold medal.
More than 4,000 athletes from 16 regions are competing in the PRISAA National Games, which is supported by the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission. (PNA)
