NCR sweeps all-around golds in men’s artistic gymnastics to grab Palarong Pambansa lead

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King Cjay Pernia adds two more Palarong Pambansa gold medals to his collection as he captures the individual all-around crown and leads National Capital Region to the team all-around title in the secondary boys' division

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – King Cjay Pernia stamped his class anew in the Palarong Pambansa as mighty National Capital Region completed a golden sweep of the all-around events in the men’s artistic gymnastics competition at the Ilocos Norte National High School in Laoag City here on Monday, May 26.

Pernia defended his individual all-around crown and led the Metro Stars to the team all-around title in Cluster 3 (secondary boys).

The Pasig City standout garnered 43.9 points to beat out teammate Hillarion Palles III for the individual all-around gold as Pernia, a member of the national junior team, advanced to all four apparatus finals on Wednesday, May 28.

Pernia said he got motivated to work harder after seeing Carlos Yulo, the Philippines’ premier gymnast, make history in the Paris Games last year as the first Filipino to win multiple Olympic gold medals.

“I am more diligent in training now and I try to do all my skills the best way possible,” said Pernia.

Palles got silver with 42.5 points as NCR totaled 125.9 points to top the team all-around category, with Jacob Maceson Alvarez adding 39.5 points.

NCR also lorded over the elementary level, with Arman Hernandez Jr. of Don Carlos Village Elementary School in Pasay shining the brightest as he emerged as the most bemedalled athlete on Day 1 by snagging five golds and one bronze.

Hernandez claimed the individual all-around crown in Cluster 1 with a total of 36.6 points then also captured the golds in floor exercise, vault, and horizontal bar to go with a bronze in pommel horse.

With Kizz Gungob and Deen Gungob going 1-2 in the individual all-around of Cluster 2 with 39.75 points and 39.15 points, respectively, NCR nailed the elementary team all-around title as well.

The gold haul in gymnastics allowed defending champion NCR to grab an early lead in the medal tally as it won 13 of the first 47 gold medals confirmed by Palarong Pambansa organizers.

NCR, which also bagged eight silvers and three bronzes, clinched its other gold medals in athletics, table tennis, chess, and para athletics.

Calabarzon is closely behind with an 11-9-6 gold-silver-bronze loot, while Western Visayas (6-5-3) sits at third. – Rappler.com