Davao region still at 4th in Prisaa Games

HAULING 30 gold medals, 45 silvers and 58 bronzes this time, Davao Region retained its fourth finish over-all at the close of the 2013 Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) National Championship on Friday in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Prisaa was also fourth in the 2012 edition of the Games in Cebu City.
Central Visayas defended the over-all championship while Calabarzon was runner-up and Western Visayas placed third.

Prisaa regional executive director Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia, in a phone conversation yesterday, said the men's baseball and men's sepak takraw teams kept their championships. They topped boxing and men's chess team events, too.

The region, however, settled for silvers in men's and women's beach volleyball.

"We had a breakthrough in swimming with four golds, athletics contributed five golds and taekwondo with one gold. It's the first time we captured golds in swimming. We could have finished better or improved our over-all standing had we swept more golds in medal-rich swimming and athletics since we performed well in ball games," Sarabia said.

Prisaa 11 men's chess champion team

OVERCOMING THE ODDS

The Prisaa men's baseball team rallied in the fifth and final inning to beat Central Luzon, 3-1, to defend their gold medal.

Champion coach Vincent Ryan Sarabia of the University of Mindanao (UM) Davao couldn't believe they survived the threat posed by their rivals who scored the first home in an earlier period.

Coach Ryan, in text messages to this writer, said, "Naglisod mi ug depensa sa among titulo kay nabag-uhan mi sa playing surface. Daghan man gud kaayo ug balas kay daplin sa dagat. Nanibago ako mga players kay dili parehas sa usual playing field (We had difficulty defending our title since we played on a surface that had more sand being located near the sea. My players had a hard time adjusting since they were not accustomed to the field)."

Hailed as Best Coach, Ryan also said they played Central Luzon in the finals for the first time, thus, adding to the pressure.

"Players of our rival team were in better form as they have been exposed in tournaments in Manila. They are properly-trained unlike us who were not able to practice after our field was flooded after the regional meet. Our field dried up only later so we were not able to maximize our supposed training schedule. That's why this championship is very special to all of us. We really fought hard for this title-defense," Ryan said in the vernacular.

UM Davao's Earl Ryan del Socorro was hailed most valuable player, best pitcher and best hitter.

The team was also bannered by Nobby Rich Abas, Charles Kevin Ambulo, Edgardo Baniog, Rodrigo Garcia, Roy Vic Gelvero, Howell Jera Jr., Paul John Juson, Gennis Lumictin, Emmanuel Rivera, Jose Franco Serra and Mark Anthony Takahashi of UM Davao. Beefing up the squad were UM Tagum's Mark Louie Catbagan, Mac Loe Olivar and Mark Johncris Tagaod with Jose John Cortes as assistant coach.

SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT

UM Panabo boxers Jolan Bunghanoy, Jay-ar Inson and Quirino Mellejor Jr. and UM Davao's Lamberto Catipay Jr. pocketed golds in their respective events. UM Davao's Philip John Fuentes salvaged a silver.

In chess, Prisaa men's team tallied a total of 18 points to emerge champion over Western Visayas and Central Visayas that ended up with the silver and bronze, respectively, with identical 17 points.

Jose Maria College mainstay Clark Kent Anabieza earned 6.5 points after eight rounds to lead the charge for Prisaa 11. His teammates Kenneth John Tabada (6.0 points) and Robert Mendez (5.0) also lifted the region's sterling finish. The Rowel Modina-coached team was also composed of Randy Ebao of UM Tagum and Jun Mark Baldesimo of Cor Jesu College of Digos.

UM Davao's Exiquila Apao and Cristy Grace Ngo with Cor Jesu College's Emily Cañada combined for 17 points to cop the women's chess team bronze for Prisaa. Western Visayas (19) annexed the gold while Central Visayas (18) had the silver. Erna Liwanan and Cyrille Vidad also composed the Prisaa 11 team mentored by Ronnie Tabudlong.

Christian Lebre of DMMA College of Southern Philippines won a gold in men's taekwondo while University of the Immaculate Conception's Rochel Joy Esteves got a women's silver.

The women's 200m medley 4X50 relay team also chipped in four golds, via the core medal system, courtesy of UM Davao tankers Sweet Agnel Altamera, Shenna Mae Ayuban, Marmie Pega and Nashiha Kasim.

Over at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex track oval, Sonny Wagdos (men's 5,000 meters), Adrian Linao (men's javeling throw), Charito Bajuyo (women's high jump) and Anthony Nerza (men's 3K steeplechase, 10K) also took golds.

Angelie Madulin of UM Davao, meanwhile, emerged champion in women's table tennis singles.

FALLING SHORT

Highly-touted UM Tagum men's and womens' teams lost in their respective beach volleyball finals matches. The men's team of Jefty Amora and Hachaliah Gilbuena bowed to Central Visayas, 19-21, 21-17, 13-15 while defending champion Prisaa 11 women's team of Lourdilyn Catubag and Blessie Baguhin succumbed to Central Visayas, 17-21, 18-21.

Prisaa 11 women's tennis team got a silver while the women's table tennis team, doubles team and mixed team copped a bronze each.