SPORTS

Masbate out to duplicate Batang Pinoy feat in Palaro

MEMBERS of the Masbate team that dominated the athletics’ meet of the recent Batang Pinoy National Championship vow to make their presence felt in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa when it gets going on Monday in Marikina and Pasig.

Masbate collected 11 golds, six silvers and seven bronzes to claim the no. 1 position and dominate track and field competitions when the games were held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur last December.

Fifteen-year-old Leonalyn Compuesto, Masbate Sports Academy’s fastest runner, who swept all her five events in the Batang Pinoy, is entered in the secondary girls’ 400-meter run, and will be among Region V’s best bets in the country’s annual interscholastic sports meet.

Her teammates, Realyn Lanuza, Jesalyn Materdan and Alessandra Capellan, took the 4x400m relay gold and are entered in separate events, with Lanuza taking part in the 100-meter sprints.

Materdan is entered in the 800-meter run and Capellan is expected to make a splash in the 110-and 400-meter hurdles.

Their coach Regine Batoy-Librando said the girls have been giving their best performances since December and are expected to be at their best again, following their arrival in Manila on Friday.

Also expected to make an impression in the secondary girls’ side are Nicol de Lara (2000-meter walk), Erica Magallanes (triple jump), Courtney Trangia (discus throw), and France Rapsing (3000-meter steeplechase).

More than 9,000 student-athletes and officials from 17 regions are taking part in the Department of Education-organized event which is making a comeback after three years of hiatus due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Marikina City mayor Marcy Teodoro, in a statement said, the city government worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the Palarong Pambansa, which carries the theme “Batang Malakas, Batang Matatag”.

“The DepEd entrusted us with such huge tasks and the city government of Marikina accepted to take on this enormous challenge and responsibility of hosting this prestigious national sporting event. Despite the limited capacity of the city, we still have the ability to host the Palaro,” he added. Peter Atencio

Pampanga, Letran clash in ‘Battle of Champs’ finals

PAMPANGA—Pradera Theme Park forged a finals clash with Farm FreshLetran in the 2023 Manila Bankers

Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under Battle of the Champions after eliminating Max Ballers with an emphatic 87-72 victory on Thursday at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Delta ended their nationals campaign with a 3-1 record—16-1 overall— to take the other slot in the best-of-three finale which begins on Friday.

It was a dominant outing for Pampanga-Pradera, a team raring to get back the 92-87 loss it received at the hands of Farm Fresh-Letran last Wednesday, highlighted by a dominant third quarter that saw them turn a 52-45 halftime lead into a 76-55 cushion heading into the last 10 minutes of the game.

Incoming De La Salle University freshman Rhyle Melencio led the way for the Delta with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Veejay Pre bullied his way to a line of 17 points and 18 rebounds.

Debuting Joseph Pangilinan also shone for the Kapampangans, chipping in 13 points off the bench.

Meanwhile, Farm Fresh-Letran will enter the final stage of this tournament co-presented by SCD and Dumper party-list and supported by J Project Clothings, MDC, Bluesky Advertising, NET 25, Wcube Solutions Inc., Hotel SOGO, and Converge with a clean 4-0 slate after taking a dominant 100-79 win over Cagayan de Oro Higalas.