By MARK REY MONTEJO
LAOAG CITY – After days of oppressive heat, rains finally fell here on Friday, May 30 – for several reasons.
Swimmers Sophia Garra and Titus Sia completed their dominating show by winning their 7th gold medal each in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa even as National Capital Region annexed its 18th overall championship.
Garra, 12, lived up to her lofty billing as she won the elementary girls 50m after clocking 28.99 seconds to complete her mission – winning all her seven events , same thing for Sia in elementary boys.
The pride of Malabon City reigned in the 100m and 200m freestyle, and 4×50 freestyle and medley relays but it was her wins in 100m backstroke and 200m IM which proved very special. Both were achieved in record-ripping fashions.
“Pinaghandaan ko po talaga ‘to kasi goal po ‘to na ma-sweep ko po ‘yong mga events,” said Garra. “Ngayon po kasi mas maayos po ‘yong mindset ko and mas mahirap ‘yong mga naging training namin.”
“Pangarap ko pong mag-Olympics balang araw gaya ni coach Jenny,” said Garra referring to 2000 Sydney Games swimmer Jenny Rose Guerrero.
On the other hand, the 12-year-old Sia ruled the 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 4x50m freestyle and medley relays while shattering previous marks in 200m and 400m free and 100m back – a giant improvement from his one-bronze showing in Cebu last July.
Their feats helped the Big City bets extend their reign as the overall champions with 101 gold, 65 silver, and 44 bronze medals.
NCR’s overall championship, howeverm was not as sweet as it was the past 17 years.
The reason? They were dethroned in secondary 5×5 basketball – no thanks to Western Visayas’s masterful performance in the semis.
But Western Visayas’ celebration was short-lived as the Davao Eagles – represented by Ateneo de Davao – soared and devoured them in the form of 67-51 victory at the jam-packed Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena to become the first team from Mindanao to win the basketball crown.
Bhenz Semilla, another star from Davao, also hopped his way en route to a six-gold haul in the secondary boys dancesports to become the most successful athlete in their sport, bettering young but promising Arman Hernandez Jr.
Also with five golds were NCR swimmer Patricia Santor (elem girls), Central Visayas archer Naina Tagle (secondary girls), and CALABARZON gymnast Sheena Ty (elem girls).
CALABARZON (39-60-55), Davao (36-22-33), Western Visayas (35-44-44), and Northern Mindanao (27-21-38) also made to the Top Five.
Completing the Top Ten are Central Luzon (24-20-31), Central Visayas (22-25-37), CARAGA (18-13-29), CAR (16-12-8), and SOCSKSARGEN (13-21-28).
