THE Dagupan athletes impressed the city residents when they returned home from the six-day Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games (PNG) with 12 medals and produced 10 finalists in their respective events.

Dagupan fielded its own delegation separate from the Pangasinan delegation to the Batang Pinoy and PNG held in Metro Manila from December 17-22, that saw the participation of 19,802 athletes from all over the country.

Dagupan, despite sending a token delegation of 113 athletes and 20 coaches with a shoestring budget, it made strong finishes in swimming, boxing, gymnastics and taekwondo, all in the Batang Pinoy event, and nearly captured gold medals in PNG’s two events in Wushu.

Finnela Sim, OIC of the Dagupan Youth and Sports Development Program said, the Silver medalists in Batang Pinoy are Mathew Gaelan (Swimming 100 and 200 backstroke), Billy Jake Quinto Jr. (Boxing 60 kilograms for youth/men (17-18 years old category), Mark Reyes (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Hp2 Vault), and Princess Pascual (Taekwondo Kyorugi Cadet Under 168 cms category).

Silver medalists in PNG Wushu events: Marielle Nicole Gonzaga (52 kilogram) and Bryan Anonuevo Wushu (48 kilograms).

Bronze medalists in Batang Pinoy: Mark Reyes (Men’s Gymnastics Hp2  Pommel Horse), Roland Tolentino (Boxing 54-kilogram Elite Division), John Andrew Bocaotao (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics) Junior Stir Ring; and Terrence Geo Puzon (Taekwondo Cadet Under 148 cms) in Taekwondo.

Blessed Erguiza and Jollen Soriano were quarter finalists in badminton (15-17 years old) while the relay team of Jeremy Carlo Jizmundo, Jessie Cacapit Jr., Mark Bryan Rioflorido and Gabriel Angelo Jizmundo placed 4^th (4x50m. Medley Relay and 4×100 Freestyle Relay).

Other finalists in swimming were Gabriel Angelo Jizmundo, 4^th (50m backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 50m Breast stroke), Matthew Gaerlan , 4^th (freestyle) while Zoe Bettina Ilaw, 4^th (HP3 Vault in Gymnastics).

Sim thanked Coaches Francis Mararac (athletics), Jerald Cayabyab (badminton), Billy Jake Quinto Sr. (boxing), John Paul Lena in Gymnastics, Jefferson Lao in Swimming, Carlo Jose Daroya in Taekwondo, Marlene Mena in Wushu for training the athletes well.

Sim said Dagupan formed its own team to the Batang Pinoy and PNG when Pangasinan turned down its request to allow city’s athletes to participate in provincial try outs. (Leonardo Micua)

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