Richmar Villaluz, the boy from Cauayan who competes barefooted, seized his third gold medal yesterday to key Area VI's surge, even as two athletes from Bacolod City and another from Escalante completed sprint doubles on Day 2 of the athletics competition of the Palarong Panlalawigan in Bacolod City .

The 12-year-old Villaluz, a sixth grader at Inayawan Elementary School, continued to impress at the University of St. La Salle tracks, grabbing his third victory in the triple jump that all but wrapped up the outstanding athlete award in the elementary boys division.

Area V bet Erma Rose Ganao of Escalante and Bacolod City National High School athletes Ana Marie Jagocoy and Rolando Uberas sprinted their way to the gold in the 200m, after topping the 100m in their respective divisions.

Inspired by the presence of his mother, Margie, who took a three-hour bus ride to Bacolod from Cauayan, Villaluz leapt to a distance of 10.37m for his third gold medal.

“I'm very happy,” Richmar, who harbors dreams of entering the Philippine Air Force, said.

He added he was motivated by the presence of her mother, who has supported him in his quest for athletic excellence.

Christian Mark Del Rosario topped the 1500m in 5 minutes, 4.89 seconds and Junrey Dupo ruled the 800m in 2:06.89 to join forces with Villaluz in raising Area VI's tally to 63 points, 20 points ahead of second-running Area I with 43.

Almost lost in the din of Area VI's stampede was the double-gold effort of Sagay athlete Roed Bais, who bagged the gold for Area II in the 110m hurdles (20.80 seconds) and the high jump (1.40m).

After falling short in shotput, Area IV's Gilbert Pamplona took the discus throw gold with his 24.17m effort.

NOPSSCEA's Carl Anthony Sabbun of Brookside Garden Academy in Bago City brought home the 200m gold in runaway fashion, crossing the finish line in 26.70 seconds.

Ganao, who studies at Paitan Elementary School , finished the 200m event in 29.83 seconds as Area I improved to 50 points for the top spot in the girls' division. Estella Alvarez added another gold for Area I when she ruled the 800m in 2:43.13.

With 44 points, Area VI lurks behind in second overall, thanks to the triple jump win of Aubre Edang (8.86m).

Devy Isada of Bago City was tops in discus throw (25.56m) for her second gold, while Estella Alvarez of Area I won the 800m race in 2:43.13.

It was the City High athletes turn to shine in the secondary girls' division as Palarong Pambansa 800m champion Mary Joy Caporas and Jagocoy scored back-to-back victories.

The BCNHS bets pushed Area VII to the top of the team title race with 52 points, while Area I and Area IV is in second and third with 41 and 28 markers, respectively.

Jagocoy, a senior, once again won her duel with NOPSSCEA's Jami Dawn Henares by clocking 26.59 seconds. The result was a repeat of the 100m Monday, where Henares also went for the silver.

A confident Caporas, 14, encountered little resistance in retaining her 800m and 1500m titles. The sophomore timed 5:18.21 to beat Area V's Jennifer Empres of Himamaylan (5:22.99) for the 1500m gold, after winning the 800m with a 2:29.41 clocking.

BCNHS' athletics coach Yolly Vingno hopes the victories will help draw additional support from the city government, especially training equipment.

The other secondary girls' gold medalists were Area I's Felyn Dolloso (triple jump, 9.97m), NOPSSCEA's Maika De Oro (discus throw, 31.48) and Area III's Ruffa Madayag (100m hurdles, 17.67).

Having won the 100m Monday, Uberas found validation in the 200m blazing past the opposition in 23.64 seconds.

But his win hardly made a dent in the overall standings as Area IV, banking on its victories in the field events seized command with 52 points.

Zaldy Lopez reigned supreme in triple jump (12.50m) and Bon Daryl Lagunday, the gold medallist in shotput, won silver in discus throw to power Area IV's campaign.

Area I is running second with 41 points as Gerald Mark Layumas prevailed in the 110m hurdles in 18.24 seconds and Dennis Empase in discus throw with his 29.98m heave.

Area V carted away two golds yesterday with Renevee Sumugod snared top honors in the 800m in 2:08.64, before Himamaylan National High School junior Tiron Enlagan prevailed in the 1500m with a 4:28.18 clocking.

ELEMENTARY BASKETBALL

In elementary basketball at the USLS-IS covered court, NOPSSCEA opened its title-retention campaign with a 106-49 whipping of Area I yesterday, while Area V and Area IV bounced back from defeats Monday.

Area V downed Area II, 70-25, while Area IV outplayed Area X, 50-30.

VOLLEYBALL

NOPSSCEA also served notice of its title ambitions in elementary volleyball as its boys' squad toppled powerhouse Area III, 25-12, 25-14.

Area III had earlier walloped Area VI, 25-21, 25-9. In other games Area IV trounced ANOPSSAI, 20-25, 27-25, 25-15.

In the girls' tournament, NOPSSCEA hammered Area IV, 25-13, 25-22, for its first win, while Bacolod City outlasted Area I, 26-24, 12-25, 25-21.

NOPSSCEA was also unbeaten in the high school division as its boys and girls' team easily disposed of separate rivals at the USLS college covered court.

The girls team, represented by USLS, overpowered Area VII, 25-18, 25-23, in bracket A action, which also saw Area IX beating Area VI, 25-18, 25-16.

Area VII recovered its bearings via a 25-21, 25-23 smashing of Area IX.

In bracket B, Area II won a thrilling showdown with ANOPSSAI, 12-25, 28-26, 25-23, while Area III dumped Area V, 25-13, 25-14. Other bracket B games saw Area IV coming out on top over Area II, 25-14, 25-19.

In the boys division, NOPSSCEA hammered out a 25-18, 25-10 victory over Area VI, Area III smashed Area II, 26-24, 28-26 and Area VI downed Area I, 25-22, 25-16 in bracket B.

In bracket A, Area V trounced Area IX, 25-22, 25-16, ANOPSSAI stunned Bacolod, 25-23, 25-17 and Area IV overcame Area V, 23-25, 25-21, 25-9.*CPT

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