NCR rules the overall medal tally in 19^th straight Palarong Pambansa

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — And still.

For the 19^th straight edition, National Capital Region (NCR) lorded it over the rest of the archipelago by ruling the overall medal tally race via run away fashion once more in the 66^th Palarong Pambansa at the Lipus Makapandong Gov.D.O. Plaza Sports Complex.

The Metro Stars harvested 91 gold, 70 silver and 71 bronze medals in the unofficial tally on Sunday pending the closing ceremony at press time at the same venue, where Quezon City (QC) from the same region will inherit the hosting torch from Agusan del Sur.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday arrived to lead the transition from Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago B. Cane, Jr. with hopes of surpassing the quality standards set by the province as a first-time host with newly-built world-class facilities and the warmest hospitality.

Thanks to a gold rush in the traditional Olympic disciplines like swimming and athletics, a victory ride it was for the Big City right off the bat, marching unopposed down South and now heading home for a grand hosting and 20^th championship bid at the heart of the country’s metropolis.

NCR put the cherry on top with gold medals in secondary girls’ volleyball led by the National University-Nazareth School and secondary boys’ football spearheaded by Far Eastern University-Diliman in the nightcap on Saturday at the closing of the competitions.

Metro Manila claimed back-to-back titles in the girls’ volleyball after a 22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-18 win over the Negros Island Region, represented by the Bacolod Tay Tung High School that ruled the Palaro for two years before NCR’s redemption last year in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

NCR’s win in these two staple team sports more than made up for the secondary boys’ basketball, where the team settled for a bronze medal. NCR bowed to former champion Davao Region in the semis, 76-66, but took care of Central Luzon in the battle for third, 81-74. Calabarzon emerged as the surprise champion with a 79-62 win over Davao to snap a 10-year title drought.

But NCR’s overall crown had the biggest imprint from Patricia Mae Santor, the Games’ winningest athlete, with a perfect seven-of-seven haul in secondary girls’ swimming including two records, for a perfect swan song in an illustrious high school career also capped by Batang Pinoy’s most bemedaled feat last year in General Santos City.

Tankers Jamesray Mishael Ajido and Ashton Clyde Jose followed suit with five and four golds, respectively, while sprinters Franceine Jhobie Rosario and Ma. Lhynnette Libranda captured three golds each.

Gymnasts also made their marks with Tchelzy Mei Maayo, Antonette Amante, Sheena Jillianne Ty and Deen Gungob delivering four golds each.

Meanwhile, Calabarzon retained its second place finish at 55-50-60 while Davao Region (34-32-35) stole the thunder from usual third placer Western Visayas to complete the podium.

Western Visayas (31-36-45) slid all the way to fifth as Central Visayas placed fourth at 32-30-44. Host Caraga impressed with a sixth-place finish after golds in football and pet events combat sports. — John Bryan Ulanday