Cotabato Regional Athletic Association’s (CRAA) gritty gymnastics team snatched the overall championship in the men’s artistic gymnastics-elementary category late on Wednesday, ending powerhouse National Capital Region’s (NCR) grand slam hopes in the ongoing 2013 Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City.
CRAA, which placed second in the 2012 Palaro in Lingayen, Pangasinan, finished the event with a gold medal in the team event, two silvers in the vault and individual all-around, a bronze in the floor exercise, two fourth and one fifth place finishes.
The region’s gymnasts garnered an overall score of 32 points, which was eight more than defending champion NCR’s 24 points.
Ilocos Region took the second spot followed by Bicol Region at third. NCR, which dominated the event in the 2011 and 2012 Palaro, settled for the fourth place.
CRAA’s impressive campaign was led by Ron Vincent Pama, which won the two silvers in the vault and individual all-around events.
John Paul Cabido won the bronze in the floor exercise and teamed up with Pama for the gold medal in the team event.
Meantime, in the women’s artistic gymnastics, CRAA settled for the second place after failing to cope with NCR’s striking finishes.
But CRAA’s Precious Valerie Pama copped a gold medal in the balance beam while teammate Aiah Fuentes won a bronze in the horse vault.
Pama’s lone gold medal win came after her three silver finishes in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa.
Aside from her bronze medal, Fuentes also landed 4th place in the individual all-around and 5th place in the floor exercise.
Their teammate Zyrene Jan Inog landed 5th in the balance beam, horse vault and individual all-around events.
NCR’s team championship was bannered by the gold medal performances of Regine Reynoso in the floor exercise, horse vault and individual all-around. Her team also grabbed three silvers and two bronze medals.
NCR garnered 15 points overall to win the overall championship followed by CRAA with 10 points and Region 7 with seven points. (PNA)
