By JOEY E. CAASI | Contributor

IBA, Zambales — Two Zambales representatives in the recently-concluded Palarong Pambansa 2018 held in Vigan City outshone other competitors in their respective fields, reaping glory not only for their schools but also for the province.

Ed Delina, a 17-year old native of Brgy. Maloma, San Felipe, Zambales, broke the national record in Secondary Boys Discus Throw event by throwing the 1.75-kgs. metal plate to a distance of 42.67 meters in the final round.

This shattered the 13-year old record of 41.62 meters set by Clifford John Bonjoc of Central Visayas Region in the 2005 Palarong Pambansa in Iloilo.

Delina, clearly the title favorite in the event, secured the ticket after floating a distance of 35.37 meters on his third attempt after two-fouled throws on his first and second trials.

RECORD-BREAKER
In the final round, he registered 40.62 meters in the first throw, broke the national record in his second attempt with 42.67 meters, then landed 41.58 meters in this third.

The senior high school graduate of Ramon Magsaysay Technological University started playing discus at age of 14 and was trained by his brother, Emerson, also a national competitor in Athletics. He then competed in the national level for Batang Pinoy and Milo Little Olympics, and in 2017 became the lone representative of Zambales in the 9th ASEAN Schools Games in Singapore.

Delina dedicated his triumph to his parents who travelled eight hours to Vigan from Zambales just to witness his performance.

CHESS MISS
Meanwhile, the last two gold medals to be won by Central Luzon in this year’s Palaro was taken by a 12-year-old girl from Iba, Zambales.

Heart M. Padilla, a Grade 6 graduate of Iba Central Elementary School, reigned supreme over 34 other wood pushers by garnering six points overall to crown herself queen of Chess Elementary Standard Individual category. Later, she teamed up with Roilanne Marie Alonzo of San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan for another gold in the Standard Team competition.

In the individual category, Padilla out-maneuvered title-favorite Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro City, who represented Region 10-Northern Minda-nao, to take the top prize.

In team competition, the Padilla-Alonzo tandem earned a combined nine points to claim the gold medal and come in just behind the powerhouse duo of Aliyah Rae Lu-mangtad and Lieane Faith Salajudin of Region 11-Davao, and Ruelle Canino and Janice Caesa Mharie Monsales of Region 10-Northern Mindanao.

Padilla, an incoming Grade 7 student who wishes to enter Zamba-les National High School’s Special Program in Sports (SPS) this coming June, claimed her first gold during her Palaro debut after coming out on top in the regional meet.

PATRIOTS
The Padilla-Alonzo tandem, fought for the Central Luzon “Patriots” team and was coached by Michael Espinosa, a teacher from Iba Central Elementary School.

Central Luzon improved its tenth-rank finish in last year’s Palaro in Antique to a stronger eighth-place overall in this year’s national meet. The delegation headed by Regional Director Malcolm Garma collected 21 gold, 21 silver, and 24 bronze medals.

The Central Luzon team placed fourth in the elementary level with 18 gold, 10 silver and 8 bronze medals, and earned 13th place in the secondary level with 3 gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze.