Sunday, September 14, 2008 Individual brilliance By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
PAULA Abigail Vega will be ending her final Milo Little Olympics today in memorable fashion as she became the day’s biggest contributor for the University of Cebu secondary division with five of UC’s 12 gold medals yesterday to help her school win its 13th straight overall title in the secondary division.
Yesterday, two swimming records were shattered and Vega had a hand at breaking one.
Vega swept five of her events—one in record-breaking fashion—yesterday and is expected to sail through her final two events as the competition wraps up today, setting her up for a most outstanding athlete (MOA) diadem .
However, organizers explained that as much as possible, they would want to give the MOA to another athlete unless they find Vega’s feat “exemplary.”
Vega and her teammates Romylyn Ignacio, Merylyn Sulva and Joyce Huguete broke the record set by Silliman University last year in the Girls 400-meter medley relay with 5:37.18, improving last year’s record of 5:50.14 by 13 seconds.
“It will be my last year and it will be memorable,” said Vega, the star swimmer of UC, who swept all of her events yesterday winning the gold medals in the 400-meter free, 100m back, 50m free and the 400 m medley relay.
Happy
“I am happy with this because my time improved a lot,” said Vega.
Meanwhile, in secondary division’s athletics Moa Jee Ann Racoma, a Palarong Pambansa campaigner, helped steer her team with the five gold medals she won. She also reset a new record but details of the fete were still not available at press time yesterday.
Aside from the five golds in the pool and in the tracks, UC also had one in badminton and in table tennis for its 30-16-9 gold-silver-bronze medal tally and is comfortably taking a giant lead over current second placer University of San Carlos (7-1-4) and University of Southern Phiippines Foundation (6-5-1).
USC was suddenly pushed to second place following the impressive feats of tennis players Sallydine Siso, who won, 8-1, over UV’s Mary Ann Miñoza for the gold medal.
Twin brothers Christian Paul and Christian John Cabahug collared the top plum in the doubles competition after defeating USJ-R’s Jayvee Canoy and Joseph Tallo, 8-2. Siso claimed her first ever tennis MOA in Milo, which her siblings Sally Mae and Bernardine used to hog.
Swimmer Jebb Cane led USC’s assault from the pool as he won two gold medals, while Jesse Arriola and Ara Denise Echavez added one each.
Meanwhile, the visiting team Silliman University suddenly found itself topping the charts in the elementary division. With its tankers at the helm, Silliman tasted the lead the elementary division with 6-2-1, but it was short-lived as the athletes of San Nicolas Elementary School scorched the tracks to take temporary leadership with 6-6-5, relegating Silliman to second place later in the day.
Silliman’s swimmers were the other record-breakers for the day as the team of Ana Paraiso, Yona Academia, Eila Tiu and Mae Geraldine Tantengco reset a 2005 record made by Holy Name University in the elementary girls 200 m medley relay.
Two golds
Paraiso also won two individual golds in the 200 free and 50m free. James Gravador completed the last three gold medals after winning in the 50 back, 200 medley relay and 50 free.
Meanwhile, playing the hero for San Nicolas is Mirlou Baring, the Most Outstanding Athlete in the elementary division athletics who single-handedly lifted San Nicolas to take the top spot in the elementary division after winning five gold medals for his school.
An absentee last year, Cebu International School made its Milo comeback worth as after defeating St. Theresa’s College, 2-0, via penalty shootout.
Gabby Aboitiz and Sophie Peterson scored for the team, while keeper Lara Muller made an important save for CIS.
In the boys division, Don Bosco won 2-0 over University of Southern Philippines Foundation in match which almost ended in a brawl after a Don Bosco supporter threw a rock at a USPF player.
Miguel Caindec and Bernard Buot scored for DBC.
Springdale took the medal in the elementary division with a 4-1 finish against SHS-J. Pericles Dakay was named MOA.
In badminton, Mark Joseph Puentevella of UC won over teammate Joshua Ibo for the gold medal, while SHS-J’s Janel Dihiansan won the gold in the secondary girls division over UC’s Irish Ares.
In table tennis, UC also pulled off a 1-2 finish in the mixed doubles in the secondary division with ANS winning the bronze.
