LONG distance specialist Julius Sermona of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental left for Guanzhou, China last Saturday together with four other national track and field standouts to compete in the Asian amateur Athletics championships.

National coach Joseph Sy said the four others are long jumper Maristella Torres, middle distance runner Ernie Nierras, javelin thrower Rosie Villarito and Rene Herrera.

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Sermona told SunStar Bacolod in a telephone interview yesterday he will use his Guangzhou stint as a guage as to how far he has gone in hit preparations for the December Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

“We try to keep them focused on the SEAGames. This competition will prepare them for it,” said Sy before he and the athletes flew to Guangzhou.

Sermona, the 2006 National Milo Marathon champion, skipped defending his Milo crown to compete for the country in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand where he came home with a silver in 5,000 meters and a bronze in 1,500 meters.

He is one of 12 Negros Occidental athletes who were named into the list of RP national training pool standouts who will compete for the country in the December Laos SEAGames.

The other Negrenses in the RP contingent are: boxers Joan Tipon, Joegin ladon, bill vicera and Mitchel Martinez; javelin thrower Rosie Villarito, hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, judoka John Baylon, sprinter Sheena Atilano, long jumper Joebert Delicano, golfer Mia Piccio, and beach spiker Rhovyl Verayo, plus boxing coaches Nolito Velasco and Roel Velasco.

AACI Trading beats Chemisolutions, Sweet Crystal in solo 3rd of Fil-Sino caging

AACI Trading made it to the quarterfinals beating Chemisolutions, 92-83, while Sweet Crystal Sugar is in solo third after routing AACI Transport, 124-89, in the ongoing 2009 Fil-Sino All Asian Countertrade Inc. 3rd Conference Inter-Color Basketball Tournament at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

Sweet Crystal fired 20 triples and outscored AACI Transsport in all quarters to boost its quarterfinal chances and improved its record to 3-1. AACI Transport is still winless and suffered its fourth loss.

Jan Jan Young had a game high 26-point effort with 7 triples for Sweet Crystal, Rey Pandoro added 22 points, Ronald Arabia chipped in 16 points, RJ Iligan had 5 treys finishing with 15 points, Kirrel Brandon Montalbo had 14 points, Marvin Ortiz 8 points, and Atong Villanueva 7 points.

Christopher Javelosa paced AACI Transpsort with 17 points, Dan Dan Gustilo and Vincent javelosa with 12 points apiece, Tim Garrucho with 10, Tubby Villanuevfa and Espejo 8 points each.

AACI Trading fell behind by 18 points in the 1st quarter but had a good closing quarter run to cut the lead to 27-15. The trio of Archie Co, Kenderson Hao and Johann Villanueva with 8, 7 and 7 points, respectively, led the charge for Chemisolutions while Antonio Rogacion was the lone bright spot for Trading with 8 points.

It was the turn of the Trading troika of Frederick Ong with 10 points, and Biboy Yap and Alex Chua with 8 points to turn it on in the 2nd quarter as Trading grabbed the lead at the half, 49-42, and AACI Trading threw a full court press that suffocated the offense of Chemisolutions. Vincent Tan contributed 9 points for Chemisolutions.

Archie Co’s 12 3rd quarter points drew Chemisolutions closer at 60-58.

Rogadion had 11 points while Freddie Ong added 9 points and was relentless at eh paint as Trading established several double digit leads in the 4th. But Chemisolutions cut the lead to 85-81 with 2 minutes left on a Kendrson Hao triple. But a 7-2 closing run sealed the win for Trading.

Antonio Rogacion topscored with 26points for Chemi, Kenderson Hao 16, Vincent Tan 13, Johann Villanueva and Arvin Chua with 11 points.

Today’s schedule pits Chemisolutions againsg Basecom in the first game followed by the clash between JSY Transpsort and Huminova Tigers. (HCV/with Stephen Tan)