Bukidnon schools shock table tennis rivals

Thursday, August 11, 2011

BUKIDNON's Kalilangan National High School and Maca-opao Elementary School may still a decade far from becoming title contenders. But their athletes in table tennis event made a mark in the Mindanao Milo Little Olympics 2011 concluded here last Sunday at Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.

To the big surprise of homeground best Corpus Christi School, which used to dominate the event in many years, Kalilangan coach Vivien Pasion fielded the underdog cast of Ma. Nina Nacasabog, Reigean Gabutin, Jamaica Galon, Ma. Concepcion Alamis and Leonica Balsomo to rule the secondary girls' table tennis.

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Mentored by Pedro Draug and reinforced by his kins -- Princess Jan Draug and Kyneshi Jan Daug -- along with the equally-determined Sheenah Corinne Nacasabog, Shiela Marie Manzano and Christine Mae Caturay, Maca-opao's table tennis swingers had also surprisingly overwhelmed their city-based rivals to bring home the event's elementary girls crown to the landlocked province of Bukidnon.

"With 15 points each nga ilang nakuha pag-champion sa table tennis not to mention sa ginagmay nga contribution from other events nga ilang gi-apilan, dili na malayo sa ranking kining duha ka public schools from Kalilangan, Bukidnon," event organizer Megdonio R. Llamera told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

However, proving they're still a force to reckon with, Corpus Christi School was able to sustain its dominance in secondary boys table tennis with the Benoya siblings (Sergio, Serknight, Serjun) and fellow Palaro veterans Hesed Sombilon and Justine Paul Pacana leading the charge.

Cagayan de Oro's City Central School, last year's overall champion in elementary level, went on to pocket the table tennis plum in elementary boys division.

Another school in Bukidnon -- the Maramag Central Elementary School -- also refused to go home empty-handed, even sharing the spotlight with City Central's elementary girls in winning the male side of the contest.

Lanao del Norte netters, meanwhile, stamped class in the equally exciting secondary rivalry of the lawn tennis matches.

"Actually, it's a good sign for Mindanao team comes the third national finals of the Milo Little Olympics in Pangasinan this coming November nga ga-contribute na ang uban nga schools in Mindanao provinces talent-wise. In fact, it's a welcome development nga nag-apil for the first time ang Zamboanga City kay aduna pud silay sorpresa nga gihimo," added Llamera, citing the seven-gold finish by Zambo tankers in the medal-rich swimming competition.