ANCHORED by the prolific performance of NCAA Season 100 track and field standout Alfredo (Creds) Pineda, the Mercuries made their impressive debut in the 88th Araw ng Davao Athletics Festival recently, bagging eight golds, one silver, and one bronze medal at the University of Mindanao track oval.
Under oven-hot conditions, Pineda, who earned the NCAA Rookie of the Year and won three golds and one silver in the NCAA meet held two weeks ago at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, sustained his winning streak with a sweep of the 100 and 200-meter runs.
Vying in the men’s 19-year-and-above division, the Perpetual sprint ace clocked 10.09 seconds in the century dash and 22.46 seconds in the 200-meter run to lead the charge of the newly formed track and field squad sponsored by KG Management Inc.
He completed his perfect run by leading the Mercuries, composed of former and present UAAP and NCAA standouts, to triumphs in the men’s 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays.
Sharing the spotlight with a pair of mints was UST mainstay John Celestino Romero, who topped the men’s 400-meter race in 49.80 seconds, and a member of the winning 4×400-meter relay Mercuries team coached by the national javelin thrower John Paul Sarmiento and assisted by NCAA silver medalist Benjie Duhac.
University of the Philippines’ Clint Niño Neri also had a gold in the men’s long jump, winning in 7.16 meters, aside from being a member of the triumphant 4×100-meter relay squad. He also secured a silver in the triple jump, leaping 14.76 meters.
National University’s Orly Orongan and John Lloyd Cabalo, both UAAP record holders, also contributed to the winning effort in the men’s 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays, while former 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Melvin Calano topped the javelin throw in 61.77 meters.
Another NU bet, Van Alexander Obejas, also got into the golden act in the men’s 110-meter hurdles.
A former PRISAA standout, Jayvie Duhac, settled for a bronze medal in the men’s 5,000-meter race as the Mercuries captured the men’s overall title in the meet.
“This is the first time that KG Management Inc. has formed and sent a track and field team to a big athletic event. The solid results of our athletes in the Araw ng Davao Athletics Festival are pretty encouraging,” KGMI managing director and Mercuries team manager Jun Esturco said.
“We look forward to providing our KGMI athletes with more opportunities where they can showcase their talent and excel in future athletic competitions,” Esturco added.
