By Jean Malanum
TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan – Arvin Lim of Soccsksargen delivered two gold medals in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games karatedo competition at the SM City here Thursday.
The 20-year-old from Koronadal City won the men’s individual (-75kg) and the team (Open) event with Carlh Patrick Espino (-84kg), Jayphol Banaria (-67kg), and Jayrald Marquez (-84kg).
“I’m happy for winning two gold medals. My hard work paid off,” said the 5-foot-4 Lim, a third-year criminology student at the Marbel School of Science and Technology. “I dedicate these medals to my family and to Region 12 (Soccsksargen).”
Lim, the eldest of three siblings, learned the sport at the age of seven. He is a member of the King Lion Brotherhood of Martial Arts club headed by coach Sonny Lim.
“I’ve been training 2 to 3 hours daily after class. I really prepared for this tournament,” said Lim, who won the team bronze last year in Legazpi City. He bagged the individual (-67kg) and team silver medals in the 2023 edition hosted by Zamboanga City.
Soccsksargen has 74 golds, 64 silvers, and 35 bronzes to remain at No. 2 in the senior medal tally board, behind Central Visayas with 78 golds, 25 silvers, and 37 bronzes.
“We are performing well. The target is to get the top spot,” said PRISAA national vice chairman and Soccsksargen president Rev. Fr. Jessie Pasquin, DCC.
“With one more day left in the tournament, we hope to get more medals,” he added.
The Cordillera region is third with 23 golds, 28 silvers, and 30 bronzes, followed by Western Visayas (18-37-40), Calabarzon (14-18-20), Cagayan Valley (12-11-15), Ilocos Region (10-14-19), Negros Island Region (10-6-29), Western Mindanao (6-14-13), and Central Luzon (3-1-7).
Meanwhile, the winners in the socio-cultural and academic events were Cassandra Sofia Tapia of the Bicol Region (Mutya ng PRISAA), Donna Marie Alimpol of the Negros Island Region (oration), Jodgie Baterna of Northern Mindanao (vocal solo), Rafael Denosta and Jireh Torreres of Soccsksargen (vocal duet), and Negros Island Region (PRISAAYAWAN). (PNA)
