By REYNALD MAGALLON
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Drenched due to the moderate morning rains, discus thrower Divine Andrea Pablito jumped in joy in the middle of the drizzle after hearing the confirmation from the officials.
Not only that the 17-year-old daughter of a sugarcane farmer won her first ever medal in any national tournament she participated in, she actually claimed the very first gold medal in U18 discus throw event in the 2025 Batang Pinoy at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex, Sunday, Oct. 26 here.
Pablito heaved 32.19 meters right on her first throw to claim the gold mint, besting Trisha Nalla from Maasin, Leyte and Gwenn Julia Salac from Tarlac who registered 31.26m and 30.05m, respectively to bag the silver and the gold.
Aspiring to become a police in the future, Pablito said she is dedicating the victory to her father and coaches who supported her throughout her journey.
“Thank you po sa coaches ko pati na rin kay God kasi di ko ito makakamit kung di dahil sa kanila,” said the student from Ramon Torres National High School.
“Sobrang saya po. First time ko po kasi talaga kasi first medal ko sa national po,” added Pablito who failed to advance to the Magic 8 in discus throw and only qualified to the next round in the javelin throw in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
She actually still has the chance to become a double-gold winner right on the opening day as she competes in the javelin throw as of posting time.
Over at the swimming pool, records sank one after another on the opening day of competitions.
Ashton Clyde Jose of City of Santa Rosa broke the previous meet record of 2:15.58 with his 2:15.12 time to claim the gold in the Boys 16-17 200m IM.
He defeated previous holder and City of San Fernando bet Anton Paulo Dominick Della , who finished with 2:16.97 to nab the silver, and City of Davao’s Jian Paul Baulos who clocked 2:18.92 for the bronze.
Jose, who still has six events to participate in, believes he can still perform better after considering his record time as one of his ‘bad swim’.
“Medyo pangit yung start ko kasi sumobra po yung bilis ko so napagod ako sa back end ko. Ang nangyari, mali mali yung splits ko,” admitted Jose, who had three-gold, two-silver medal haul in the last year’s edition in Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
