KG Management Inc. athletes in various sports are poised to see action in prestigious local and overseas competitions, beginning with the Palarong Pambansa opening this Saturday at the Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Memorial Stadium in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
Among them are middle distance runners Frederick Ramirez and Kharis Lark Pantonial, both members of KGMI’s Team Mercuries. They were named to the 16-member national track and field team that will compete in the 26th Asian Athletic Championships on May 27 to 31 in Gumi, South Korea.
Some consider Ramirez the successor to middle-distance running legend Isidro del Prado. In his Asian meet debut, he will compete in the men’s 400-meter race together with the up-and-coming Pantonial, the youngest member of the national team at 18.
Ramirez bagged the silver medal, clocking 47.1 seconds in his pet event, while Pantonial was pivotal in the PH squad that took the gold in the 4×400-meter mixed relay race (3:29.85) in the recent National Open at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Junior runner John Clinton Abetong, swimmer James Ray Ajido and junior artistic gymnasts Jacob Alvarez and Andrei de Leon will vie in the 65th Palarong Pambansa that Ilocos province will be hosting for the second time since 1968.
One of the youngest members of Team Mercuries, Abetong, 16, stood out in the National Open, ruling the boys Under-18 400-meter race in runaway fashion in 48.87 seconds, and silver medals in the 100-meter sprint (11.13) plus runner-up finishes in the 4×100-meter (44.18) and 4×100-meter relays (3:24.12).
A young member of the KG Management Inc. athletic stable, elementary school gymnast Jacob Maceson Alvarez will hope to duplicate his prolific efforts in the Ilocos Norte Palaro after winning five golds in the Cebu edition with wins in the individual and team all-around, pommel horse, vault, and floor exercise.
Just as talented is Andrei de Leon, who captured six golds in the recent Philippine Cup hosted by artistic gymnastics pioneer Club Gymnastica at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Last but not least is 2024 Asian Age Goup swimming championships gold medalist James Ray Ajido, who is expected to showcase his skills on the Palaro stage carrying the colors for the National Capitol Region.
“We are all proud of these outstanding and promising athletes and hope they will be able to excel as they compete in the Asian Athletic Championships in South Korea and the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte,” said KG Management Inc. director Jun Esturco.
“We hope that with KG Management Inc.’s continued support, they will be able to sustain and flourish in their respective athletic careers, and, ultimately, make our country proud in international play,” Esturco said.
