ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Army ended swimming with 5 golds and added 13 in taekwondo, 4 in athletics, 2 in chess Wednesday (26 June 2024) to remain with the most number of wins on the third day of the 2024 ROTC Mindanao Leg at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex here.

But Air Force cadet John Austin Hampac of Southern City College in Zamboanga City earned the “Most Outstanding Swimmer” title with 5 golds to his name.

“Na-overwhelm ako. Hindi ko inaasahan ito. Pasalamat ako sa Mahal na Diyos higit sa lahat at sa mga sumusuporta sa akin lalong-lalo sa school namin. Pangako kong pagbutihin ko pa sa parating na national finals sa Cavite,” said the 21-year-old Hampac, a first year Criminology student.

Also settling with five golds were Army cadets of Northern Mindanao College, Inc., in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte Reymond Pelisan and Jellie Somera, and Navy cadet Haji Al-Jhaez of Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology.

“Sa tingin ko, Malaki ang aming tsansang mga Mindanawanon sa national finals. Kailangan lamang talaga na paghdaan ng maiigi ang kumpetisyon. I was a swimmer already since my elementary days,” said the 19-year-old freshman Jhaez.

The ROTC Games, a brainchild of Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino, is in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of National Defense, and Commission on Higher Education to strengthen discipline and camaraderie among cadets from the different schools and universities throughout the country.

There are more than 2,000 cadets all over the Mindanao region participating in the week-long competition and the Philippine Army enjoyed the most number of units enabling them to see action in all events of the 15 sports disciplines being contested compared to the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy.

Each of the three branches of services in the Armed Forces conducted their competition for their respective cadets so that three golds are being offered in every event, hence they are not paired against each other. Thus the bigger number of units has the advantage of participating in all events contested.

At the end of the aquatics event, the Army cadets gained 18 golds, while the Air Force cadets had 16 and eight (8) for the Navy Sailors.

In athletics at the JFEMSC track oval, both Army cadets and Air Force secured four golds each. Army’s Christian Villamor of Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology won the gold in the men’s long jump (5.87 m), while Ronalyn Suson of Tangub City Global College dominated the women’s 200-m run (28.1).

The Air Force competition had Alkidar Riban of Mindanao State University-Sulu campus winning the men’s long jump in 4.38-m and Kyla Rose Espiritu of Western Mindanao State University-Zamboanga City grabbed the women’s 200-m run in 31.7 seconds.

Winners in the Navy athletics were Alec Rowen Garcia of Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology captured the gold in the men’s long jump (5:31-m) and Marian Abunda of the same school capturing the women’s 200-m run in 38.3 seconds.

John Barry Asdani likewise dominated the Air Force men’s 200-m contest (25.0) and Jerico Belagon of ZSCMST in the Navy competition while the Army collision saw Jerome Marc Basin dominating in 23.7 seconds.

In the shot put event, Mary Rose de Los Santos of WMSU ruled with a throw of 5.28 m for the Air Force and Anthnonette Nunez made 5.54 m for the women’s Army competition.

In Taekwondo at the Western Mindanao State University gymnasium, the Army cadets cornered 13 golds, while the Air Force produced eight (8) and seven (7) for the Navy.

The Army winners were Antholyn Bongcawel (finweight) of Jose Rizal Memorial State University-Dipolog, Michael Senillo (flyweight) of Cor Jesu College, Laudemer Ceniza of La Salle University-Ozamis, Lester Kilat (featherweight) of Don Jose Ecleo Memorial College, Benedict Dongog (lightweight) of Cor Jesu College, Niel Gorgonio (heavyweight) of Cor Jesu College.

Navy competition in taekwondo showed Jay Mark de los Santos of Universidad de Zamboanga winning the fin weight division followed by Ime Rouge Oliveros (flyweight) of Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology, Hasirum Sarajun (bantamweight) of Universidad de Zamboanga, Jan Clark Hassim (featherweight) of ZSCMST, Glenn Jamahali (heavyweight) of Universidad de Zamboanga.

Jhazel Apolinario (finweight) of WMSU) led the winners in the Navy women’s taekwondo contest along with Nica Jane Pantaleon (flyweight) of Nuevo Zamboanga College, Inc., Muzanina Matarul (bantamweight) of MSU -Sulu and Fatima Guerra (lightweight) of Southern City Colleges.