ABELLANA National School (ANS) retained the softball title of the 27th Cebu City Olympics after beating Salazar College of Sciences and Institute of Technology (SCSIT), 5-4, thanks to the late-game heroics of Jethel Daño.
Down by a point and with two outs in the final inning, the defending softball title holders’ fate rested on the shoulders of batter Jethel Daño.
After getting two strikes, Daño had one more chance to lift ANS to victory. She struck it beautifully and the ball flew across the field for a home run plus batted in a run by Hazel Dela Cerna, who was in second base.
“I felt relaxed,” Daño told SunStar Cebu. “What was on my mind was to hit the ball because we needed it to go to the Cviraa.”
ANS won its 10th straight title in softball.
“It was a blessing because we had two outs and already had two strikes,” said Jackson Genolaga. “I encouraged them to hit the ball with proper contact. I told them to believe in themselves that they will win.”
Genolaga didn’t expect to retain the title this year because he had a relatively new team after most of his players from his championship team last year bolted for SCSIT.
“Most of my players went to Salazar. I had to form a new team that is not that strong. I didn’t expect that we will be champions but I always tell them to play hard and target the gold medal,” said.
In football, Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) advanced to the finals of both the secondary and elementary divisions after another set of victories today.
DBTC beat University of San Carlos (USC)-BED, 3-0, in the secondary division.
Josh Asignar hit the back if the net in the 29th minute, while Jascha Tabar scored a brace, one in the 52nd and the other in the 65th minute.
DBTC handily beat Paref-Springdale, 13-0, in the elementary division.
In the other secondary division match, Paref-Springdale bounced back with a 1-0 victory over ANS.
Dino Stefano scored the match’s lone goal.
Paref-Springdale takes on USC-BED in the morning today to determine which side will face DBTC in the finals later in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Unit 5 and University of Cebu (UC) dominated swimming.
Unit 5 finished with 21 gold medals, followed by UC with 17. (EKA)