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Degala, Baguio bets shine in national games wushu
DUMAGUETE CITY – Baguio City dominated the wushu competition while national pool member Dave Degala annexed three gold medals in the penultimate day of the second POC-PSC National Games here.
The 15-year old Degala, an incoming fourth year high school student at Arellano University, ruled the Group C men of short weapon, long weapon and bearhands categories held at the Acsat gymnasium.
Degala, who grew up idolizing martial arts icon Jet Li, tallied 9.15 points in barehands, 9.05 in short weapon and 8.88 points in long weapon to snare three gold medals and share the wushu limelight with Baguio City.
“Mas ready ako this year kasi twice a day ako mag-ensayo,” said Degala, who won two bronzes last year in Bacolod City. “Kaya Masaya ako dahil tatlong gold medals nakuha ko dito.”
Degala has been with the training pool of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines since 2007 and campaigned for the Philippine team last year in the Asian Championship in Shangai, China where he finished 14th in the bearhands event.
Baguio City collected 14 gold medals in this competition led by Faith Liana Andaya who topped the Group A female san lu quan and short-weapon taolu and Alecxis Gomez who ruled the Group C female nandao and barehands events.
Other gold medalists for Baguio City were Xavier Cardenas Solomon (Group A male short weapon), Kariza Kris Chan (Group D female taiji quan), Jasmin Chan (Group B female taiji chan), Vanessa Chan (Group B female chang quan), Marie Belle Mapayu (Group B female nan quan), Janrey Botigan (Group B male nan quan), Jericho Posadas (Group B male nan quan) and Englebert Addongan (Group D male freestyle chang quan).
In judo held at the Negros Oriental State University, Annie Ramirez claimed two gold medals. The 20-year old judoka from UST won the gold medal in te women’s open weight d and the -63kg divisions.
In softball, Cebu City blanked Bukidnon, 8-0, to win the gold medal in the women’s division while Iloilo edged Tacurong, 12-11, for the bronze.
