PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Arvin Naeem Taguinota II is on his way to becoming the most bemedaled athlete as he helped Pasig City stay on top of the overall medal tally of the 2024 Batang Pinoy National Championships on Tuesday at the Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex here.
Taguinota, 13, is tipped to emerge as the meet’s most decorated athlete after winning the gold medals in the 12-13 boys’ 100-meter backstroke and 4x50-meter freestyle relay events to jack up his golden production to five in the fourth day of hostilities of this prestigious grassroots event.
He clocked one minute and 4.30 seconds to win the gold medal before powering the group of Ricardo Delgado, Marcelino Picardal III and Jefferson Saburlase to a golden triumph in 1:47.44 for his fifth gold medal.
The British International School in Phuket, Thailand student said he felt he had a better showing this year as he has a solid chance of winning his sixth gold medal in the 4x50-meter medley relay on Thursday.
“I think last year, I was a bit better but I got better PBs (personal best) this year so it’s all good,” said the soft-spoken Taguinota shortly after surpassing his three-gold medal haul in last year’s edition of the tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“I’m proud of myself and the times that I got. My team aims to win the Batang Pinoy.”
With five gold medals, Taguinota is now tied with gymnast Haylee Garcia of Pasig City with the most number of mints to inch closer to the meet’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum.
Taguinota, a son of a businessman and a salon employee in Qatar, said he is working hard to make it to the national team after failing to join the 46th Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships in Bangkok from 6 to 8 December.
“I feel like I can join the Philippines and compete in the future,” Taguinota said.
“My times here are close to the qualifying times so I think I can make it for next year’s SEA Age Group.”
Pasig City coach and two-time Olympic swimmer Jessie Lacuna told DAILY TRIBUNE that Taguinota is eligible to compete since his parents already have a home address in the area.
“Since his parents already have an address in Pasig City, he is eligible to qualify. He enjoyed swimming and inquired about us in Pasig City swimming if he could join,” said Lacuna, who competed in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.
“Our goal has always been to break your best time. I think he has shown this.”
Taguinota’s efforts have fueled Pasig City’s bid for the overall championship as it currently has 41 gold, 24 silver, and 44 bronze medals for a total of 109 medals at press time.
Defending champion Baguio City is in second place with a 27-30-34 medal tally while Quezon City has a 23-21-31 medal haul for third place.
Also highlighting the fourth day of one of the biggest grassroots tournaments in the country was Mico Villaran of Bacolod City who joined forces with Ryzen Facto, Cloui Loquias and Churynthya Tecson to set a new U18 men’s 4x400-meter relay mark with a time of 3:47.72 seconds.
They erased the previous record of 3:54.49 minutes set by Milchay Moreno, John Rods Bongcayat, Mary Jane Pagayon and Gorbachev Pepito of Davao City.
In swimming, Catherine Cruz of Mabalacat City reset the 16-17 girls’ 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:08.32, eclipsing last year’s record of 1:09.05 by Ishaelle Mae Villa of General Trias.
In weightlifting, Adonis Ramos of Jalajala, Rizal ruled in the men’s 55-kilogram event after a snatch of 85 kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 100 kgs for a total of 185 kgs.
John Carlo Lozada of Zamboanga City won the Children’s Boys’ 55-kg event with a snatch of 62kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 80kgs for a total lift of 142kgs.
Another Zamboanga City weightlifter in Kirby Kent Alas-as won the boys’ 55-kg event with a snatch of 87 kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 100 kgs for a total lift of 187 kgs.
Aklan dominated the pencak silat event at Robinsons Palawan after Lyca Pascual and Ma. Feroz Retiro won the artistic double junior novice girls while Frenz Gregorio and John Jizmundo won in the artistic double junior elite boys.