Runners Panique, Cadosale lead early winners in Nat'l Games

Negros Occidental natives Eric Panique and Stephanie Cadosale ruled the men’s and women’s 10k race, leading the early list of winners in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)-Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) National Games Sunday at the Bacolod City capital. Panique, who hails from Himamaylan City, won a close race as he checked in at 32 minutes and 59.59 seconds, only four seconds ahead of runner-up Jason Agravante (33:03.50). Joel Alcorin placed third with 33:41.94. Cadosale, meanwhile, dominated the women’s race as she checked in at 41:50.07 to beat Maricel Maquilan (42:14.52) and Phoebe Ann Lava (45:51.44). In the 5k race, Ryan Hulleza topped the event with a time of 16:10.53, beating Ryan Hulleza, who clocked 16:37.33. Anthony Babiera placed third after submitting a time of 16:40.18. Louielyn Pamati-An won the women’s 5k race with a time of 21:07.79, upstaging Ellen Tolentino (21:26.82) and Ronalyn Hiligan (22:16.72). The men’s 3k category proved to be a stiff competition among the combatants. Jezrael Bayotas crossed the finish line at 10:37.20, only .56 tenths of a second ahead of Romulo Balinas. John Montalbo placed third place with a time of 10:54.36. Felrose Valdez took the women’s 3k race with a time of 12:37.05, outlasting Mae Therese Cula (13:01.27) and Lyann Dilema (13:35.22). Athletics will open Monday at the Panaad track oval along with beach volleyball, karatedo, lawn tennis, indoor volleyball, muay thai, futsal, women’s football and pencak silat in Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Bago, respectively. Philippine Azkals’ Phil and James Younghusband led some 2,500 runners during the fun run while Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Ricardo Garcia, commissioners Jolly Gomez and Chito Loyzaga, and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) secretary general Steve Hontiveros headed the opening of this week-long, multi-sports event. A Masskara dance and a cheerleading competition also highlighted the opening ceremonies of the sportsfest that aims to discover new talents and to give national athletes the exposure they need before they plunge to action in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this November. - RCJ, GMA News