LAOAG City—Olympian Elma Muros-Posadas’ protege Karl Tacoy anchored the National Capital Region to a Philippine junior record-smashing performance in the secondary boys’ 4×400 meter, even as fellow Big City bets Titus Sia and Sophia Garra captured seven swimming golds each at the close of 2025 Palarong Pambansa here on Friday.
The 17-year-old Tacoy, an 11th grader of the Jose Rizal University, made heads turn when he outran last runner Kian Labar on the final turn, as they upset the Mico Villaran-powered Region 6 squad with a time of 3:18.96 at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium oval.
Villaran, who was the third runner, and his Western Visayas teammates, settled for second with 3:20.49.
The 18-year-old Villaran went on claim three medals — two golds and a silver.
Both the clockings of NCR and Region 6 not only surpassed the 2019 meet record of the Al Rhayyan Labita-led NCR team, they also went past the national junior mark of the team of Ryan Bigyan, John Cedric Montesser, Ferdinand Lopez and Raymund Lopez in the 2013 POC-PSC National Games.
“Ginawa ko ang best ko, kasi alam kong pinagkakatiwalaan ako ng mga teammates ko,” said Tacoy, who credited his coach, Olympic veteran Muros-Posadas in inspiring him and helping out Arthur Fronda in crafting a strategy for their race.
Teaming up for the relays with Tacoy were Anthony Cariaso and Ivan Cabanda and Pi Wangkay, who earned his third gold medal.
Meanwhile, wonder kids Sia and Garra became the winningest athletes of the games as they clinched seven gold medals each for NCR at the end of the swimming meet at the FEMMS pool.
The 12-year-old Sia, a sixth grader from Xavier School, grabbed his final two medals in the elementary boys’ 50-meter backstroke and with his teammates in the 4X50-meter freestyle relays.
Garra snared her final pair of mints the with NCR squadmates in the elementary girls’ 4×50 meter freestyle relays, and in the 50-meter freestyle action.
In secondary boys’ basketball, Ateneo de Davao claimed the crown for Region 11 with a 67-51 demolition of Western Visayas’ St. Robert’s International College at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena.
