2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg ends with Davao defending the crown

FILE: Davao City obtained 56 gold, 39 silver, and 58 bronze medals overall during the tournament. (Photo: PSC (Philippine Sports Commission)/Facebook)

After days of competition, the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao organized by The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Davao Del Norte province concluded last Saturday, February 9 in Tagum City with Team Davao once again winning the most medals.

Davao City obtained 56 gold, 39 silver, and 58 bronze medals overall during the tournament, with 17 of those gold medals in swimming provided by Amoguis sisters Liaa and Lora. Six of their other golds were in athletics, four in taekwondo, and four in karatedo.

Davao’s final gold medals were in baseball, chess, and girls’ doubles, which were led by  Wesley Magbanua, Harlene Herbabuena, and Janinah Panisales.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez expressed his gratitude in the success of the first Mindanao leg of Batang Pinoy, which welcomes more than 3,000 athletes under the age of 15 from the southern provinces. In his words during the closing ceremony at the Davao Del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex, “These young athletes showed that achieving peace through sports is very possible. Again, it’s not about championship or gold medal. It’s about our children and teaching them how to embrace unity and peace without any bias of religion, politics or ethnicity.”

Finishing second place in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg were the Cagayan de Oro representatives, totalling 33 golds, 23 silvers, and 42 bronzes. The golds were hard-earned by Lady Jane Payla in junior girls pinweight, Angelo Lofranco in junior boys pinweight, Jhasli John Illudar in junior boys light flyweight, and Rhein Jhon Gido in junior boys flyweight boxing.

General Santos City came in third with 27 gold medals, 33 silvers, and 31 bronzes, while Davao finished fourth with 24 golds, 25 silvers, and 24 bronzes.

Home city Tagum tallied a total of 13 gold, 12 silver, and 18 bronze medals.