Cadiz Duo Scores Historic Palaro Badminton Sweep

Cadiz City made history in badminton at the 65th Palarong Pambansa held May 24-31 in Ilocos Norte.

For the first time, two athletes from the same city, region and training academy faced each other in the finals, guaranteeing both gold and silver for Cadiz City and Region 6–Western Visayas.

Lovic Caceres Javier, 17, a Grade 12 student at Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School, claimed the gold medal with a commanding finals performance.

He defeated fellow Cadiz shuttler Cris Ivan Dosano, 16, of North Negros College.

Both athletes delivered a historic sweep for Cadiz City and Region 6.

Javier and Dosano, longtime players under the Jaguar Badminton Academy, showcased their skill and discipline in a title match that highlighted the success of Cadiz’s grassroots sports development.

Their gold-silver finish marked a rare feat in Palarong Pambansa history—athletes from the same city, region and academy securing the top two spots in a national event.

“This was more than just winning gold,” Javier said.

“It’s about everything that came before it—the long hours, the early mornings, the sacrifices. Standing on that court, representing my region and sharing that final match with my teammate from Cadiz, it was a moment I’ll never forget.”

Javier dedicated the victory to God, his family, coaches and the people of Cadiz.

“First of all, I dedicate this to our God. Without His guidance and strength, I wouldn’t have reached this point,” he said.

“This gold is also for my mother, who supported me throughout my practices, wins and losses. This is not just my win—this is Cadiz’s win.”

He also thanked Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and the Department of Education Cadiz Schools Division Office for their continued support.

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to compete and showcase our talent on the national stage,” he said.

Escalante said the performance of the local shuttlers proved Cadiz is becoming a “badminton haven” in Negros Occidental.

“This is something we can be proud of,” Escalante said.

“Seeing them compete in the finals was assurance that, no matter what happened, the gold and silver were already reserved for Cadiz—for Western Visayas.”

“It was quite an extraordinary sight—Cadiz versus Cadiz in the finals of badminton secondary boys,” he added.

Escalante said both medalists will receive trophies and cash incentives from the city government for their achievements.

Javier has already been recruited as an incoming sports scholar by De La Salle University in Manila.

This year, 10 badminton players from Cadiz qualified for the Palarong Pambansa, forming a strong contingent among Region 6’s 900 delegates across all sports.