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| Baguio is on track for the Batang Pinoy-PNG championship double. PSC Media Pool (file photo) |
MANILA--The Batang Pinoy overall championship race is boiling down to a showdown between the young athletes of Baguio and Cebu City.
As of 4:30 p.m., Thursday, both Baguio and Cebu City already amassed 17 gold medals each four days into the meet.
Baguio is ahead on silvers and bronzes as the city also won 16 silvers and 28 bronzes while Cebu City already collected 14 silvers and 19 bronzes.
Davao City and Pasig, however, could still spoil the show as they are just a little behind Baguio and Cebu City with 16 and 15 gold medals, respectively.
Fourteen of Baguio's golds came from combat sports taekwondo, Muay Thai, and judo, while the other three came from archery.
Baguio City Sports Development Office chairman Gudz Jimenez expressed optimism that the city's sportsmen will exit the annual meet pitting high school and grade school student-athletes as overall champs again for the fourth straight time.
“We are confident and hopeful that we will again emerge as overall champion. It’s always good to think positive,” said Jimenez.
A PHP5 million cash prize awaits Batang Pinoy's overall champs.
Baguio topping PNG race
Meanwhile, Baguio's senior athletes are on track to rule the Philippine National Games.
Baguio won 11 golds four games into the PNG that is being held simultaneously with Batang Pinoy alongside six silvers and five bronzes.
Pasig and Mandaluyong are tied with nine golds with Pasig currently owning the second-place tiebreaker with 16 silvers against Mandaluyong's seven.
Should Baguio's Batang Pinoy team pull away and their PNG squad maintain its lead, they could enter the Christmas weekend with the overall championship double.
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