Adrian Bucol, Hidilyn Diaz's kababayan, is Palarong Pambansa's first weightlifting gold winner

AGUSAN DEL SUR — Zamboanga produced another historic gold medal.

Region IX bet Adrian Bucol emerged as the first-ever weightlifting gold medalist on the Palarong Pambansa stage after ruling the secondary boys 48kg on Tuesday in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

Bucol, the smallest competitor in the eight-man field, posted a total lift if 183kg to capture the gold medal as weightlifting made its much-awaited debut in the annual sporting event.

Bucol lifted 85kg in snatch and 100kg in clean and jerk.

Hidilyn Diaz, the country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist, is serving as tournament director for the Palarong Pambansa's weightlifting competition.

Coincidentally, the 15-year-old Bucol hails from Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga, the same place where Diaz grew up.

"Kinabahan po ako pero konti lang," Bucol, a Grade 9 student from Talon-Talon National High School, said.

"[Ang pangarap ko po] ay makalaro ako ng international."

(I felt nervous, but only a little bit... My dream is to compete internationally.)

Bucol, who was introduced to the sport by Hidilyn's cousin Allen Diaz, impressed early on after lifting 80kg and 83kg in his first two snatch attempts, but failed to hoist 85kg on his third and last lift.

Bucol then completed all three of his clean and jerk attempts, clearing 93kg and 96kg before sealing the victory with a decisive 100kg lift.

Region IV-A bet John Cadag claimed the silver with a total lift of176kg built on 80kg in snatch and 96kg in clean and jerk wjhile Region VII representative Gerry Mapano clinched the bronze with 145kg total lift.

—JMB, GMA News