Bane-Bane, Guarte help shore up team’s Palaro bids

MANILA, Philippines – Vienna Mae Bane-Bane of Western Visayas and MIMAROPA’s Mervin Guarte grabbed the limelight with two gold medals each even as disqualifications marred the 2009 Palarong Pambansa on Friday at the Leyte Sports Development Center in Tacloban City. Bane-Bane ruled the secondary girls’ 100m hurdles in 16.20 seconds and 400m event in 59.22 seconds to lead WVRAA’s onslaught in athletics increasing their gold medal haul to 11 after five days of action of the weeklong-multi sports event. The day’s other gold winners for Western Visayas are Erwin Basa (secondary boys’ 110m hurdles, 16.55); Riean Bagoy (elementary boys’ 400m run, 56.06); Erma Rose Gamao (elementary girls’ 400m run); Nino Espinosa (SB’s long jump), Maika De Oro (SG’s discuss throw), Jay Ray Saculdito (SB’s triple jump), Janet Bedico (SG’s 100m dash) and new record holder Jesabel Montibon (EG’s 800m run). Guarte, a 17-year-old Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro native, took the spotlight despite losing his protest in the secondary boys’ 800m run where he was allegedly shoved thrice by competitors from Region IV-A costing him the gold. Upon reviewing the video tape, track chief referee Claro Pellosis said that Salvador Garin Jr. who eventually won the event and his teammate Don-Don Cartadio did not intentionally shove Guarte in the final 300 meters where Guarte broke the Palaro record during the preliminary heat. Unfazed by the protest reversal, Guarte dominated the 5000m run (16:03.46), beating Central Luzon’s Ferdinand Corpuz (16.11.50) then added the 3000m steeplechase gold. Guarte, who impressed coaches including former national team mentor Jojo Posadas, returned in the afternoon action to win the 1,500m run event in four minutes and 7.94 seconds. – GMANews.TV