Visayas beats NCR anew in Milo Olympics national finals, brings home Perpetual trophy

Sunday, November 20, 2011

BY 3 p.m. yesterday, the Visayas team secretariat’s Zenaida Gocotano was thumping through the doors of the athletes’ billeting quarters calling everyone to assemble for the closing.

An athlete quipped, “Did we win?”

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To which Gocotano replied, “We are the champions! That’s why you should get up, wear your uniforms so we can be awarded,” earning a collective “yehey” from the Visayas delegation.

A Visayas delegation that had to travel hundreds of kilometers after weeks of intense practice and training to prove once and for all that when it comes to the Milo Little Olympics, no team comes close.

And after earning yet another overall title, the Perpetual Trophy is in the hands of Visayas.

“For three years everyone worked hard. This is for the athletes who are here and those who have graduated. This is for the coaches and staff who have made their share in making this a reality,” said Ricky Ballesteros head of Team Visayas.

The Visayas won by a commanding 639.5 points, defeating for the third straight time longtime nemesis NCR (598.5) for the title. Although winning by just 41 points, it was a huge improvement from its precarious 16.5-point win against NCR last year.

Stronger

Mindanao placed third with 359 points, while host Luzon was at last place with 322.

“This just proves that we are stronger, we are bigger. And of course because of this, we now aim higher,” said Ballesteros.

As expected, Visayas earned its third title in the team competitions, which stakes more points.

Yesterday morning, the Visayas squads swept the titles in volleyball and football. By noon, it was obvious--NCR did not stand a chance.

It was a huge blow to NCR’s pride, because for three years, it has been trying to dislodge the Visayas from the top of the rankings. Something the perennial Palarong Pambansa champion can’t seem to pull off in the Milo Little Olympics.

Closing out the Visayas’ performance were the gold medal performances of Karen Mae Indaya, Lyh Ann Navarro, Annita Monterola and Beth Mae Arellano in swimming.

In tennis, the secondary boys team of Fritz Sateram Jermaine Laurel, Derick Tabotabo and Jarred Laurel won over NCR to bag the title. Jan Godfrey Seno, Francis Lambayan, Mark Suson and Arthur Craig Pantino won the elementary boys title, and Alyssa Mae Bornia, Zethley Mae Alferez and Kaitlin Bornia of Bright Academy took the girls title.

And adding insult to injury, the elementary squad of Don Bosco College trounced NCR, 11-1, to win the elementary crown, while its high school counterparts, which beat Luzon (24-0) and NCR (15-0) in opening day, took it easy against Mindanao, winning 4-0.

In volleyball, Abellana National School (ANS) defeated Luzon, 25-18, 25-21, for the secondary boys title, while Pajo National High School defeated Luzon, 25-14, 25-13 for the secondary girls title.

Colegio del Sto. Nino defeated Mindanao for the elementary boys title, while Catmon defeated NCR for the elementary girls title.

The track and field athletes capped the event with gold medals in three relay events.

“All our efforts paid off. We have won the most sought-after perpetual trophy. But we won’t stop there. We plan to continue the dominance. Win the entire Milo nationals cycle until we return to its birthplace, Cebu,” said Ballesteros.

The Visayas won the Cebu finals, Mindanao finals in Cagayan de Oro. After winning the Luzon leg, Ballesteros is eyeing the next best thing to a perpetual trophy, beat NCR when it hosts the Milo national finals next year.

Ballesteros added that the victory had given the athletes the confidence going into a most important grassroots event for student athletes--the Palarong Pambansa—where Central Visayas has been for more than six years been trying to improve its fourth-place finish.

“The victory has given the athletes the confidence. Because of our victory, I can say, the Palarong Pambansa overall title is a possibility,” said Ballesteros, who is also part of the delegation Cebu City, where the bulk of the Central Visayas athletes come from.

The regional meet that would determine who represents the region in the Palaro starts next week in Bohol.