GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Defending champion Pasig City and Manila City are neck-and-neck in the medal tally as the 2025 Batang Pinoy prepares to roll down the curtains.

As of 6 p.m. the Pasigueños hold a slim lead in the overall title with 36 golds, 25 silvers and 29 bronze medals, boosting their back-to-back title bid thanks to wins in sepak takraw, chess, and soft tennis.

Manila City has emerged as a surprise contender for the Batang Pinoy overall crown as it sits in second place with a 36-31-25 gold-silver-bronze medal tally thanks to its medals in athletics and swimming.

Patricia Mae Santor led the Manileños as she emerged as the most bemedalled swimmer with six golds and one silver medal.

Four-time overall champion Baguio City sits in third place with a 29-21-24 medal tally while Quezon City is in fourth with a 22-22-26 count.

Santa Rosa City is in fifth with a tally of 21-18-18 gold-silver-bronze collection with Leyte in sixth with a 21-9-10 haul.

Davao City is in seventh with a 19-23-32 tally and Davao City is in eighth place with a 19-12-6 count.

Host General Santos City sits in ninth with a haul of 16-16-11 while Surigao del Sur is in 10th place with 15-5-2.

The overall champion of this year’s Batang Pinoy will receive a cash prize of P5 million while the second-placed local government unit will get P4 million.

A total of P 3 million will be given to the third-best LGU, fourth place claiming P2 million and the fifth-placed city will have P 1 million.