Grand slam bid on track

REGION 7 opened its bid for a grand slam on a high note, winning eight gold medals in the first day of action of the Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) national finals yesterday in Pangasinan.

Capping the first day of gold medal rush for the defending champion Region 7 was the doubles match of sisters Sally Mae and Sallydine, who overcame solid returns from Davao City to win, 8-3.

Kezia Jabines already won the first singles, so the pressure to win this team competition rested on the shoulders of the Siso sisters.

The pressure had actually gotten into them as Davao struck first, winning the first three games, 3-0. “They were pressured because it was the championship and they needed to win that match to win the title,” said their brother, Bernardine, on Twitter.

But the sisters came recovered and went on to silence Davao winning the next eight games for the title.

At the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center oval, the Cebuanos, led by jumper Ernesto Ybañez, won two gold medals from the long jump and triple jump events.

Ybañez jumped 7.01 meters in the long jump and cleared 14.50m in the triple jump.

Fellow University of Cebu jumper Irin Baluran added another gold for Region 7 in the women’s triple jump with 11.48 meters. The University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s Kennex Alivio won a gold in the men’s shotput.

In swimming, Loren Dale Echavez of the University of San Carlos once more carried the team after winning two gold medals. Echavez won the 200-meter freestyle in 2:16.20 and the 50m freestyle in 27.90 seconds.

The other gold came from the relay team of Ric Solijon, John Arriola, Andre Pacheco and Paul Jumamil, who won the 4x100m freestyle relay.

In table tennis, the men’s team composed of Dannel Jay Tormis, Val Stephen Jaca, Lemuel Agbon, Jovien Ano-os and Darbet Tripoli won the men’s team title, while the women’s team finished with a silver.

Meanwhile, in football, defending champion Region 7, represented by the University of San Jose- Recoletos bowed to Region 6, powered by Ceres-La Salle, 6-2.

Although Region 7 made a number of attempts, they were called offside.

The squad is in Group A and will be facing Region 5 Bicol today at 1 p.m. It will go up against Region 3 Pampanga on Thursday, 11 a.m.