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2014 Palarong Pambansa opens Monday; upset victory in girls javelin


(Updated 9:22am) Although it won’t be formally opened until Monday morning, with Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao expected to lend his boxing star power to the event, some of the 2014 Palarong Pambansa competitions began on Sunday, with several medals already awarded.

Among the medals won Sunday afternoon was the high school girls division javelin throw, with Zeanne Faith S. Cabrera of Laguna earning the gold with a distance of 40.31 meters. It was an upset victory for Cabrera, having outdistanced the favored winners of the 2013 Batang Pinoy National Championships and last year's Palaro gold medalists.

According to official results posted on sports site pinoyathletics.info, Cabrera's throw did not break the 41.27 meters record set by Stephanie Cimatu in 2011. However, it was enough to surpass last January's Batang Pinoy gold medalist Monica Louise Andaya's effort of 39.36 meters, which earned  silver. Andaya's Batang Pinoy throw was 38.42 meters.

Last year's Palaro gold medalist Jerremay Rubias' throw of 38.06 meters won her the bronze. Rubias' throw this Sunday fell short of her performance in the 2013 Palaro when she managed 39.59 meters.

Cabrera graduated high school from Saint Michael's College of Laguna. She will enter Far Eastern University when the school year starts this June.

Andaya is from Taguig City and will be in fourth year high school at St. Francis of Assisi College. Rubias graduated from Tangalan National High School in Aklan province and will be a first year college student at the Aklan State University starting June.

Opening rites

Laguna Governor Jeorge E.R. Ejercito had said Pacquiao would be the last torchbearer in the opening ceremonies.

Also expected as torchbearers are actor and former Palaro swimmer Enchong Dee and three star basketball players—San Mig Coffee shooting guard James Yap, Rain or Shine rookie Jeric Teng, and De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers forward Jeron Teng. Current DLSU track and field team captain Jericho Estregan will also be in the torch relay.

Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada—an uncle of Gov. Ejercito—is expected to keynote the opening ceremonies.

Last year, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Ricardo Garcia delivered the keynote address, while in 2012, it was President Benigno Aquino III who gave the keynote.

The current Palaro is the 57th staging but it was only in July 2012 when Aquino institutionalized the games with the signing of Republic Act 10588.

The 26-foot-tall monument of Jose Rizal as a sportsman. Earl Victor Rosero, GMA News


The opening rites include the formal unveiling at the sports complex of the 26-foot-tall monument of Jose Rizal depicted as an eskrima swordsman or eskrimador. The statue will be the tallest Rizal monument and the first depicting Rizal as a sportsman.

Most of the 2014 Palaro events will be held at the Laguna Sports Complex but some will be at sports facilities of nearby schools and at the University of the Philippines – Los Banos.
 
 
 
 
 

 



Daily medical check-up for competing boxers

While the opening ceremonies are underway, high school teen boxers will undergo medical check-ups and will be weighed-in. Daily medical check-ups are also scheduled every morning, from Monday to Friday.

The Department of Education had scrapped elementary division boxing after the deaths of young boxers in earlier matches leading to the Palaro.

The boxing matches commence Monday afternoon.

Wrestling—one of two demonstration sports in the 2014 Palaro—will start competition proper on May 6 while wushu, the other demo sport, starts competitions on May 8.

Swimmers from Bicol

The swimmers start competing on Tuesday, May 6.

Having won two silvers and two bronzes in the Batang Pinoy National Championships held January 28 to February 1, Kurt Anthony Chavez is expected to lead the tankers sent by the Bicol region. Chavez is from Naga City and graduated from the Naga Central School II.

“He is our bet for a gold medal. Kurt will swim the 200 meters freestyle and 400 meters freestyle,” his coach, Francis G. Reyes told GMA News Online.

“For the 400 meters freestyle, we are aiming for a time of 4:59,” Reyes added.

At the Batang Pinoy, Kurt clocked in at 5:00.62 for the 400 meters and 2.21.79 for the 200 meters.

Another medal hopeful is James Hernandez, who will compete in the 100 meters and 200 meters backstroke.

Four of the high school teen boys will compete in the 4 x 50 freestyle and 4 x 50 medley.
 
 
 

Kurt Chavez (first from left) and the rest of the current batch of Bicol region's best swimmers among elementary school boys take a brief break from practice sessions at the 2014 Palarong Pambansa in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.


Reyes said Kurt, and the rest of the Bicol swimming contingent has been preparing for the Palaro for a month. The team last saw action in the Palarong Bicol in the late February.

Reyes said his swimmers practice at least two hours in the morning and another two hours minimum in the afternoon. On some Sundays they add one hour for noontime training so their bodies will know how to swim even under intense heat. On days when there are classes, Reyes' wards train from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. ,and also from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In Bicol, the swimmers train at the pools of the Naga Sports Complex and the Pili Marcos Stadium.

High temperatures

Athletes and spectators at the ongoing Palarong Pambansa in Laguna may have to brace for temperatures as high as 38 degrees Celsius this week.

"Sa Laguna kung saan ginaganap ang Palarong Pambansa, asahan ang mababang tsansa ng ulan. Ang ating init factor, 35 degrees Celsius alas-10 pa lang ng umaga. At 38 degrees Celsius naman saka sakali pagdating ng alas-2 ng hapon,"  GMA News resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz said Monday on "Unang Balita."

However, Cruz said their forecast models indicate possible rain on Wednesday and Thursday, with a bigger chance of rain on Friday and Saturday.
 
 
 

 
 
 


GMA News' "I M Ready" also said the temperature range until Friday may be from 24 to 33 degrees Celsius. — with a report from Joel Locsin/DVM/AMD, GMA News
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