26-05-2025
NCR leads medal tally after strong start in 2025 Palarong Pambansa opener
ILOCOS NORTE - Athletes from the National Capital Region (NCR) made strong impressions on the opening day of 2025 Palarong Pambansa on Monday in Ilocos Norte.
The multi-time defending overall champion currently leads the medal tally in the 19-region multi-sports nationwide event featuring the best of the best in the elementary and secondary levels.
NCR has 13 gold medals so far together with eight silver and three bronze to take an early lead while Region IV-A (CALABARZON) is not far behind at second spot with 11 gold, nine silver, and six bronze.
NCR soared to the top after having a gold medal rush in gymnastics, where it copped a total of eight golds right on the eventful first day at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag.
In the elementary boys, it captured four gold medals after ruling the boys' cluster 1 horizontal bar, cluster 1 vaulting table, cluster 1 floor exercise, and cluster 2 team championship (combined IAA scores).
Arman Hernandez of Don Carlos Village Elementary School seized four gold medals after reigning supreme in the horizontal bar, vaulting table, and floor exercise while also leading the team championship alongside teammates Deen Gungob and Kizz Gungob.
NCR also captured a gold medal in table tennis after the Farhana Abdul and UST standouts Kaira Agreda, Christine Golez, and J-an Sanchez dominated the secondary girls' event.
NCR also ruled the secondary boys' table tennis behind the efforts of Jebb Datahan, Carlos Docto, Emmanuel Paculba, and Emmanuel Yamson bested Western Visayas to take home the gold.
In athletics, NCR got a pair of gold when Malabon bet Cris Ivan Domingo ruled the elementary boys' 400m event by edging Efren Gempeson of Western Visayas and Keian Penaso of Region 12.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
