Lingayen – Homegrown athletes of Team Pangasinan have proven their supremacy in various sports as they seized 27 gold, 25 silver and 42 bronze medals to secure the over-all 4th spot in a field of 150 participating delegations at the recently-concluded 2016 Philippine National Games (PNG) – National Championships held here from March 7-11.
Conceptualized and formed by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. to serve as the official delegation of the province in regional and national sporting events, ‘Team Pangasinan’ harvested most of its gold medals in contact sports – wrestling (8 gold) and karatedo (7 gold).
Local athletes also racked up three gold medals apiece in arnis, muay thai and athletics; two gold in table tennis; and one gold each in badminton and dancesport.
As expected, the Philippine National Team won the over-all top spot with medal harvest of178 gold, 72 silver and 49 bronze. Baguio City (40, 25, 21) and Cebu City (31, 32, 51) placed second and third, respectively.
Ranked fifth to 10th were: University of Sto. Tomas (21, 15, 13); Zamboanga City (19, 34, 30); Karate Development Arts and Sports (14,9,14); Philippine Karatedo Traditional and Sports (12,11,23); Davao City (11,11,11) and University of Baguio (10,9,5).
Gold medalists of Team Pangasinan in eight sporting events include:
Arnis – Frederick dela Cruz (junior men lightweight); Jesus Mortera (junior men cruiserweight); and Unique Valentino (junior women cruiserweight).
Athletics – Sairah Jihan de Vera (girls high jump); Lany Cordova (women1500m) and (women 5000m).
Badminton – Nica Songcuan (junior girls singles).
Dancesport – Jhommel Molina and Gyann Garcia (grade c latin)
Karatedo – Angelo Brito (boys kata novice – 10-12 y/o); Ezekiel Saliba (male kata novice – 18y/o); John Enrico Vasquez (boys kata advance – 13-15 y/o, 52kgs.) and (boys cadet kumite – 14-15 y/o, 52kgs.); Francis Augustine Zabala (junior boys kumite – 16-17y/o, 61kgs.); John Marc Claveria (junior boys kumite – 16-17 y/o, 68kgs.); and Rheila Francesca Duya (girls kumite – 10-11 y/o).
Muay Thai – Lovely Joy Cruz (female waikru 16 y/o) and (junior female combat 16-17 y/o, 38kgs.); Princess Karen Taliba (junior female combat 16-17 y/o 51kgs).
Table Tennis – Jamela Prestoza and Sherilyn Soriano (women’s doubles); Fernando Docusin, Jr. (men’s liha event).
Wrestling – Jerome Dolim (junior men’s greco roman 50kgs.); Jhungie Framil (junior men’s greco roman 54kgs.); John Michael Ponceja (junior men’s greco roman 69kgs.); Fredeliza Caoile (junior women’s freestyle 43kgs.); Bea Rosario (junior women’s freestyle 46kgs.); Grace Anne Villareal (junior women’s freestyle 60kgs.); Mari Jhungie Framil (junior men’s freestyle 54kgs.) and Michael Ian Ponceja (junior men’s freestyle 69kgs.).