DAVAO City's five-member judo team delivered an impressive performance at the Batang Pinoy 2024 National Championships, bringing home three gold medals and one silver on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at the Pilot Elementary School in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Jerson Laguesma, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), clinched gold in the cadet boys -90kg category. His teammates Louise Anne Duallo and Calvin Posadas also took gold in the cadet girls -57kg and juvenile boys -78kg categories, respectively. Justine Caraoa earned a silver in the juvenile boys -50kg category.
In a phone interview with VoxPop Davao on Monday evening, November 25, 2024, Coach Jason Laguesma shared that Gabriel Christopher de Guzman, who was expected to fight for bronze in his event, had been injured and would no longer be able to compete.
"As of now, sa among team maayo among performance sa mga athletes. Although different clubs ni sila, okay naman ang result. Tyaga gyud sila og training maski late na sila makasugod kay naa pa man sad sila'y mga klase (As of now, our team is performing well with the athletes. Although they come from different clubs, the results are good. They were dedicated to training, even though they start late because they still have classes)," coach Jason, Jerson's father, said.
For Jerson, this victory marked a fitting end to his final year competing in Batang Pinoy. "I feel fulfilled and enlightened," he said, reflecting on his last year as a delegate. Growing up in a family of judokas, Jerson’s dedication to the sport is no surprise—his parents and elder brother are all involved in judo, and even his younger siblings are beginning their training.
"Syempre po dedicate ko sa family ko ang panalong ito, firstly, as a judoka sa family (Of course, I dedicate this victory to my family, firstly, as a judoka in the family)," he added in a separate interview.
A bronze medalist in 2023 and a silver medalist in 2019, Jerson began judo training at a young age under his father’s guidance. He is now considering a varsity scholarship offer from De La Salle University (DLSU) as he plans to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Since last year, Jerson has also received offers from other universities, but he and his parents decided to accept DLSU's offer following his recent gold performance at the Ultimate Judo Fighting Championships in Manila.
Meanwhile, Davao City swimmer Stacey Bernice Requiza added a bronze in the girls' 200m backstroke on Monday, November 25, following her silver in the 50m backstroke on Sunday, November 24, at the RVM Sports Complex. Fellow Dabawenyos Paulette Xavier Apilado and Juan Alessandro Suarez also earned bronze medals in the girls’ and boys’ 200m individual medley (IM) events.
"I feel so happy and grateful right now po lalo na na Hindi ako naga expect na mag podium ako. I'm still aiming for gold especially on the fourth day (I feel so happy and grateful right now, especially since I didn’t expect to make it to the podium. I’m still aiming for gold, especially on the fourth day)," said the 16-year-old Grade 11 student at AdDU. Requiza, competing in her third Batang Pinoy, will next race in the 100m backstroke.
In 2022, she won a gold in the 50m backstroke, a silver in the 100m backstroke, and a bronze in the 200m backstroke. She also earned a 4x100 medley gold at the 2023 Batang Pinoy.