CEBU City — Seven out of seven golds for swimmer Albert Jose Amaro II of Calabarzon.

Amaro completed a perfect seven-gold medal romp in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay with Eric Jacob Umali, Kevin Arguzon, Nimrod Montera in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa at the Cebu City Sports Center pool.

Amaro also won in the 50-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle, 4×100-meter Medley Relay, 100-meter Butterfly, 50-meter Freestyle, and 200-meter Freestyle.

The upcoming Grade 12 student emerged as most bemedalled athlete in this weeklong, multi-sports meet organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and supported by Philippine Sports Commission and Office of the Senator Bong Go.

In basketball, the National Capital Region (NCR) reclaimed the secondary boys’ basketball title after defeating Central Luzon, 86-71, at the University of San Carlos gym.

NCR shrugged off a slow start in the second quarter and took the lead at the end of the first half, 40-36.

The Big City bets then established their biggest lead at 65-40 late in third quarter at 65-40.

They continued to dominate in the payoff period to extend their lead to 28 points at 78-50 with 7:44 left.

Timothy Matias led NCR with 16 points.

“Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na mabawi ang kampeonato, lalo na’t nawala sa atin ang korona noong nakaraang taon sa sarili nating home court. Ngayon, nanalo tayo sa lugar (Cebu, Central Visayas) kung saan tayo natalo noong nakaraang taon.”” said NU coach Leo Pujante.

“Pero hindi namin itinanim sa mga bata ang paghihiganti. Gusto lang namin ipakita nila ang laro ng NU basketball dahil ang paghihiganti ay hindi bahagi ng vision ng NU,” he added.

In volleyball, NCR crowned itself as the champion after a hard-earned 27-29, 25-19, 19-25, 28-26, 16-14 in secondary boys.

The 17-year-old CJ Eyriex Visaya, who also same barangay and high school in Davao where Palarong Pambansa gem Scottie Thompson honed skill to become the PBA and Gilas Pilipinas star he is today.

A promising young hooper with a similar skillset is eager to follow in the footsteps of his basketball idol.

Visaya, an incoming Grade 12 student, has been watching and following the Barangay Ginebra point guard since Thompson’s formative years in their simple barangay of Tres De Mayo in Digos City.

“Noong unang laro niya hanggang makarating ako dito sa, siya ang inspirasyon talaga,” said Visaya.

The 64th edition Palaro is co-presented by DITO Telecommunity in cooperation with Filinvest, City di MARE, Anjo World, Cebuana Lhuiller, MILO, Pocari Sweat, Milkita, Wafello, Lemon Square, Cal Cheese, AQA, Energen, Nature Springs, Rebisco, Locally Juice, and Eastwest Bank.