PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Mariano Matteo Medina has been super fortunate to have one of the most skillful archers in the Philippine team by his side.

With multiple medalist Paul Marton Dela Cruz guiding him, the 12-year-old from Pasig City collared three gold medals in the boys’ recurve under-13 in the 2024 Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Games.

“I want to be like him (Dela Cruz), compete for the national team and eventually win medals in the international tournaments,” said Medina after topping the first distance, second distance and double round of the 30-meter event.

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Medina, who absorbed the fundamentals of the game likewise through the prodding and support of his father, defeated Naga City’s Maxximus Samillano, 334-330, in the first distance and toppled Pangasinan’s Russel Piano, 351-336, in the second distance.

He later pulled off the hat-trick at the expense of Piano, 685-660, in the double round event.

“My coach told me that it is through losing that you learn to motivate yourself and improve. No pain, no gain,” said Medina.

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Guiliana Vernice Garcia joined Medina in another triple-gold coup for Pasig City, clinching victories in the girls’ recurve 17-under first distance, second distance and double round in the 60-meter event.

Garcia subdued Cebu City’s Nina Mae Khylie Delos Reyes, 325-312, in the first distance and repeated the act over Delos Reyes, 643-630, in the double round.

“I guide them based on my experience,” said Dela Cruz, a bronze medalist in the men’s compound during the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.  INQ