BACOLOD City — Cebu Normal University Army cadet arnis campaigners struck a gold mine with nine, finishing with a flourish on the final day of the Philippine Reserve Officers Training Corp Games Visayan qualifying leg here.

Aided by national athlete and CNU student Kurt John Cristobal, who acted as an assistant coach, the Cebuanos turned the SM Bacolod City Mall into their virtual playground in adding three more mints in the meet backed by the Department of National Defense and Commission on Higher Education.

With a gold each already tucked under their belts, Jumel Montebon and Ma. Suzanne Saplad added a second each in topping the men’s featherweight and women’s lightweight full-contact live stick with impressive wins over their separate foes.

Montebon subdued teammate Julius Joring while Saplad defeated Cebu Technical University’s Gella Ramos in the women’s lightweight division before newcomer Jiara Labandero capped the CNU’s fruitful day in outclassing CTU’s Trisha Omictin in the women’s welterweight class.

CTU’s Princess Betinol foiled CNU’s Joy Siapel in completing a golden sweep of all the squad’s four events in securing the women’s featherweight mint in the sportsfest also backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Bacolod City government led by Mayor Albee Benitez.

“I was not really expecting to win in this tournament because I barely had time to prepare. But thanks to Kurt John as my coach I won!” exclaimed Labandero, who hugged Cristobal in delight over her successful outing after her bout.

“Our winning this many golds is really a blessing since most of our athletes were having their exams and we barely training for a month,” said Cristobal of the outcome of his CNU squad in the sportsfest also supported by the office of Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.

Joring did not go home empty-handed after displaying his skills and artistry two days ago in securing the mint in the men’s anyo (forms) single weapon while Crystal Jill Bowman and Franz Clement Guinoo had titles in the women’s featherweight and men’s lightweight, respectively, in the padded stick.

Arnis secretary general Gerald Canete, who was the tournament director, was pleased by the turnout of 169 entries, doubling the number in the previous edition, in the national sport “and we had to turn down some from participating because they failed to make requirements.”

University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Air Force cadettes booked a return trip to the national finals after subduing Carcar Ciy of Cebu 25-12, 23-25, 25-16, 25-12 in women’s volleyball.

In boxing at the Robinson’s Mall, Visayas Maritime Institute’s Christian Talino, Negros Oriental State University Rey Lasota, Negros Oriental State University’s John Lloyd Barte and Siquijor College’s Jayvie Malabute prevailed in the finals of their respective bouts.

Navy cadet Talino carved an RSC (referee stopped contest) verdict with 2:35 into opening round against Kar Bryan Zamora in the opening round of their lightweight clash while Airforce bet Lasota fashioned a similar RSC verdict in 2:38 of the second round against John Paul Paglumotan in the featherweight clash.

Barte disposed of Marc Brice Gandionco in just 57 seconds into the first round of their Air Force featherweight battle for gold.

In table tennis, Tanon College Inc. Army cadets Jeck Gabrinez and Jirah Grace Oliveros copped a pair of golds achieve in topping the men’s and women’s singles events and teamed up to win the mixed doubles event.