SAN JOSE, Antique – Three Iloilo Giants bets immediately made their presences felt at the start of the athletics events of the 2025 WVRAA Meet on Monday at the Binirayan Sports Complex here.
Welmer Jeck Labrador of Dumangas, Iloilo delivered the first gold medal for the Giants after topping the secondary boys 5,000-meter run with an official time of 15:56.46.
Joruel Delgado, also from the Iloilo Giants, settled for a silver medal finish with his time of 16:54.14, while Danoy Velado Jr. of Capiz won the bronze medal with a time of 17:03.38.
Robbie Aguilar of Dingle, Iloilo, meanwhile, notched the Giants’ second gold in secondary boys long jump with his 6.74 meters, while Justine Salazar of Santa Barbara, Iloilo settled for bronze with his 6.51-meter leap.
Jovelyn Labarosa, a native of San Dionisio, Iloilo and a standout of Carlos Lopez National High School, claimed Iloilo’s third gold when he ruled the secondary girls long jump with 5.17-meter leap.
Isabel Frena Lacson of Guimaras finished behind Labaroza with 5.07 meters for the silver medal, while Capiznon’s Maribele Regala won the bronze with his 4.94 meters leap.
Meanwhile, Sean Martin Maalat of Negros Occidental ruled the elementary boys shot put with his 9.70-meter throw, followed by Iloilo’s Jaymar Badoles (8.97 meters) and Aklan’s Rex Joseph Malonzo (8.75 meters).
Antique claimed their first gold medal in the competition courtesy of swimmer Brico Pe, who ruled the elementary boys 100-meter long course backstroke event.
“The hard work paid off” the St. Anthony’s College standout said. “I wake up 5 a.m. or 6:30 a.m. daily to train countless days tirelessly. Every day I will go home very hungry and tired.”
The gold medal winners in the WVRAA Meet have earned their slot in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, slated from May 24 to June 2 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte./PN
