12-year-old Cartuciano, erstwhile underdog, hurls strong to get Cebu City’s first CVRAA gold

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

TAGBILARAN—Cebu City got its first gold medal in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) from a very unlikely source, a replacement athlete in the shotput event.

Twelve-year-old Allan Cartuciano of San Nicolas Elementary School delivered Cebu City’s and Cviraa’s first gold medal, winning the elementary boys shotput competition at the Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) Sports Complex.

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But Cartuciano was the last person the team expected to win since he was a last-minute addition to the team. He was just a replacement for Ralph Pahente. Pahente was the gold medalist in the Cebu City Olympics. Pahente is also the pitcher for the baseball team and decided to ditch shotput for it, giving way for his silver winner, Cartuciano, to compete in shotput.

Always finishing runner up in competitions he has joined, Cartuciano said he was so happy with the achievement. “I’m always in second place and third place. It’s only now that I got gold,” said the Cviraa first-timer.

Cartuciano threw 7.14 meters to win the gold.

Higher game

Winning Cviraa would also mean he will compete in the Palarong Pambansa, which is also a first for him. “Excited na ko ug gikulbaan kai dili ko ganahan mauwawan ang Cebu (I’m excited and nervous since I don’t want to put Cebu to shame),” said Cartuciano.

Cviraa is starting off on a strong note with several gold medals on the first day.

Adding to Cebu City’s gold medal haul in the first day are the swimmers, who lorded it over at the CPG Aquatic Center. Karen Mae Indaya led the team with three gold medals, winning the 200m individual medley and later the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle.

The other gold medal winners for swimming were Matteo Angelo Caneda in the elementary boys individual medley, Keith Ocampo (400m freestyle), Annita Monterola (100m breaststroke) and Brian Minerva (50m backstroke), Beth May Arellano (100m butterfly) and Lyh Ann Navarro (100m butterfly).

Trailing

Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows are the athletes of Mandaue City.

Aldrin Agang and Kenn Montillano lifted Mandaue’s banner in athletics.

Agang made up for his silver medal finish in the Milo Little Olympics national finals with an emphatic victory in the 1,500-meter run of the secondary boys division.

Montillano, on the other hand, took the secondary boys shotput with a 9.67-meter throw.

The overall ranking will be determined by the general championship points and not by the medal tally. Cebu is hoping to accumulate as many points as they can in order to keep the title for the 19th straight time.