TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte -- The Tancontian siblings, Sydney and Chino, struck for gold medals again. This time in the Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships wrestling competition that ended at the Robinsons Place Tagum here Thursday, December 1. Both earlier clinched golds in judo in the biennial Games.
Both siblings turned out to be the only gold medalists for the entire wrestling that collected a total of two golds, nine silvers, and 15 bronzes.
Sydney topped the school girls 62 kilogram (kg) and above event over Rose Catalino of Baguio City and Jenny Mae Narciso of Tagum City who pocketed the silver and bronze, respectively.
Chino, for his part, ruled the school boys 85 kg event over next two placers Marx Larry Adda-Oen of Baguio City and John Andrei Samadio of Laguna.
Sydney, a Grade 11 student at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), said that winning double golds boost her confidence more. "This is really fulfilling, this is worth the trip. Worth the plane ticket expenses my parents shouldered so I can come from Manila and represent my city."
She added that she sacrificed not spending the Christmas break with her family in Davao City because the budget for her ticket was already used up for her Batang Pinoy stint.
"I did not regret talaga competing in Batang Pinoy kahit hindi na ako makakauwi for Christmas. Worth it naman talaga ang sakripisyo na makapagbigay ng pride sa home city ko," the elder Tancontian said.
Chino, a Grade 10 student, for his part, said winning two golds in one national competition was more than he expected, saying, "I am happy all my efforts paid off. I did not compete in the DCAA (Davao City Athletic Association) Meet anymore as I need to focus on my Batang Pinoy preparation having to play in both judo and wrestling."
The city's silvers were courtesy of Jonathan Aguilon (kids boys 35 kg A), Marc Jacob (kids boys 59 kg-A), Christelle Daisy Aseneta (kids girls 32 kg A), Sophia Gorostiza (kids girls 34 kg A, kids girls 30 kg B), Andrea Faith Diao (kids girls 32 kg B), Honnalyn Baunillo (school girls 44 kg), Charles Yap (school boys 32 kg) and Laurence Amaya (school boys 42 kg).
