Friday, March 28, 2008 32 golds in swimming By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebu City Niños solidified its title-retention bid in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association courtesy of the rampaging tankers, who had a massive harvest of gold medals yesterday at the President Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
The Cebu athletes notched more points in swimming, athletics, gymnastics and tennis to further pad its lead in the competition.
As of yesterday morning, Cebu City had 402 points for first place with the late afternoon results not yet included. Results for the second placer were not yet known at press time.
In swimming, the Cebuanos collected 32 gold medals, 12 silvers and five bronzes from both the high school and elementary divisions.
In the secondary division, Loren Dale Echavez of University of San Carlos led the assault after grabbing three gold medals from the individual events 100-meter breast, 200m free and 100m fly events in the secondary girls division.
University of Cebu’s Noel Cañeda added three gold medals in the 200m back and 200 IM and one from the relay event.
The other gold medal winners were Paula Abigail Vega (200m back and 4x100m free relay), Jeffrey Yana (100m fly), Jessie Arriola (200m free).
Relay winners
Both the girls and boys relay teams topped the 4x50m and 4x100m free relays.
Leading the onslaught for elementary division was Tungala Ray Lister of Colegio Inmaculada Conception, who won two gold medals. Tungala won the 200m IM and 100m fly events. Also taking first-place finishes in the elementary division were Trina Cañeda (50m back), Kysia Maphet Candia (100m fly), and the 4x50m free relay team.
Also proving to be a gold mine are the events lawn tennis, arnis and gymnastics, where the Cebuanos came virtually uncontested.
In lawn tennis, the Cebuanos claimed the gold medals in the boys’ singles and both doubles titles in the secondary division.
Bernardine Niño Siso of University of San Carlos won the singles class with an 8-6 beating of Israel Abarquez of Cebu Province, while Cyril Camporedondo of University of the Visayas won a bronze medal.
In gymnastics, Cebu City was the favored team at tip-off dominating the men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics events.
In the women’s contest, Naomi Soco lifted the secondary division after winning two golds from the balance beam and the vault. Khrystine Ava Bantugan meanwhile, hogged the limelight in the elementary division winning three golds from the floor exercise, vault and all-around.
Meanwhile, it was a great day in the football field yesterday as the two teams captured victories in their respective debut matches at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Even with the absence of three of its experienced players—team captain TJ Mateo, goalkeeper Paolo Pascual and Miles Chu—the Cebu City secondary level representative Paref-Springdale held Bohol scoreless, 2-0.
Both teams held each other scoreless after 30 minutes of action in the first half but early in the second half, Evanjames Mendoza broke the scoring drought with a strike inside the penalty area from a cross, while Jerryl Enriquez scored the other goal.
“The team was very strong even with only 12 players. Hopefully they will play better tomorrow with Mateo, Pascual and Chu playing,” Paref-Springdale head coach Mario Ceniza told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
In the elementary category Don Bosco, representing Cebu City, destroyed the hometown team Tagbilaran City in a 5-1 lopsided victory.
In arnis, Cebu City, manned by players from the University of Cebu, Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School Boys, took 11 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze. The team won the Anyo Single and Double Sticks, Combative. (With EKA, NSM)
