BATANG PINOY VISAYAS 2019: City cagers, woodpushers reach national finals

ILONGGA cagers wowed the huge crowd inside the Iloilo Sports Complex (ISC) gym after they upset Cebu Province , 79-72, in basketball girls of the recent 2019 Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifier March 3.

Iloilo City hit the ground running in the first two quarters and limited the visitors from scoring in the paint.

Aaron Blanca’s team cruised to a double-digit lead in the first half, 31-21. The Cebuanas tried to cut the deficit, but Iloilo City was unstoppable.

Iloilo City also made waves in the chess tournament with Kimberly Colaste capturing the gold medal in girls’ 12-under standard division after racking up six points, half a point ahead of silver medalist Ysabelle Noriel Nabor of La Carlota City.

Anton Benedict Bebit gave Iloilo City its fourth chess gold in the 12-under standard event after forcing a draw with Mark Alfonso Azaola of Capiz in the final round.

Tyrone Dale Yao of Bacolod City is the gold medallist in the boys’ under-15 standard.

Bacolod City also took eight gold medals in karatedo held at SM City Iloilo over the weekend.

Moving on to the national finals in October 2019 are gold medalists Chris Cholo Nicoli B. Salcedo, Joy A. Tubongbanua, and Zyrhon M. Vallejera; silver medalist Glayden Jhon D. Gregorio; and bronze medalists Margueritte Therese A. Cala-or, Shanzel M. Vallejera, Bryce TJ G. Mendones, and Hannah F. Damasco.