PALARONG PAMBANSA: WV athletes haul gold medals in chess and arnis

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Western Visayas athletes who represented chess and arnis delivered several gold medals during the Palarong Pambansa held in Marikina.

Spearheading the gold medal haul for Western Visayas is Angela Sotaridona, a native of Oton, Iloilo representing the Hua Siong College of Iloilo.

Sotaridona reigned supreme in the individual standard category and also took home the title in the team standard division.

The 12-year-old chess sensation teamed up with Charlee Andrea Manjares of Centerphil Montessori in Bacolod to stand at the middle of the podium in the team standard category.

Sotaridona is a product of the Iloilo Kisela Knights training program and is mentored by Mark Jossel Mariano and NM Rolly Parondo Jr.

The Iloilo Kisela Knights is Iloilo’s representative in the country’s only professional chess league, the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) tournament.

Meanwhile, in the arnis event, the Cabatuan arnis team bagged three gold medals in three various categories in the Palarong Pambansa.

Led by Western Visayas’ Marc Alquin Canto, Kyle Angelo Tiron, and Paul Angelo Tiron, the team was able to win the gold medal in the Synchronized Solo Weapon team category.

The Tirons continued their fantastic outing and gave Western Visayas another gold medal when they ruled the Synchronized Double Weapon category.

The women’s team also ended their campaign with the championship as the trio of Clemence Marie Alag, Mary Clarlyn Alviar, and Emerald Jane Legario also nabbed gold.

Completing the list of the medalists in the WV arnis team is Canto who clinched the bronze medal during the Full Contact Event.

The WV arnis team’s coaches were Mike Banguiran and Christian Grana while Ryan Robles served as their trainer.