TANGUB and Iligan teams would have been the hands-down picks to rule the ongoing 2014 Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) Meet here if the centerpiece event in swimming will “only be considered” as the basis to determine the overall champions.
“Pero daghan paman nga events ang maka-contribute og points nga puwede ma-offset ang ilang (Tangub and Iligan) advantage sa swimming,” said Eric Miguel, sports coordinator of Corpus Christi School in Barangay Macasandig that consistently supplies a horde of talents in many events for COAA’s (Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association) cause in the annual Palarong Pampook.
As of Wednesday morning, Tangub’s elementary and secondary swimmers hauled off a combined total of 14 golds off the 50-meter Pelaez Sports Center swimming pool. A feat almost equaled by swim-rich Iligan with its initial tally of over a dozen gilts.
“Medyo makaluya kay gamay ra atong gold karong tuiga,” said COAA’s swimming coach Sukarno Maut, even as there are still a plentiful events left to be disputed on the pool.
The sun shines bright for CdeO bets in the eastern side of the host province as the city’s basketball team made its presence felt in Tagoloan where the most followed competition is underway.
“We’re in good contention right there in Tagoloan and we’re hopeful to retain our basketball supremacy,” said city sports insider Stephen “Popong” Dacoco, who relayed that COAA tallied 10 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze in elementary and 6 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronzes in secondary as of yesterday morning.
In El Salvador City, CdeO’s high school girls—mostly made up of national Batang Pinoy qualifiers such as Erika Raagas, Rainelle Rosales, Kaye Navarro, Lovely Joy Lugatiman, Hannah Jane Caayao, Angela Compledo, Shona Rosios, Jan Franceska Variacion, Sammy Hernandez and the equally- reliable pair of Abbe San Juan and Maui Fernandez—recovered from its first loss to Misamis Occidental by defeating Oroquieta and repeating over host El Salvador also in two-straight sets.
With fellow CdeO coaches (Alex Adeva, Terence Abut, Angeliz Anoos) coming down to El Salvador to drum up support, the wards of Rizalito Abut and Ian Zapanta were all fired up to finish the day unscathed.
This morning, the most-awaited duel between Cagayan de Oro and reigning titlist Iligan is expected to fill the El Salvador court with a mammoth crowd.
“Pero grabe ang gibuhat sa MisOr girls dili na `to malimtan,” one spectator said of yesterday’s instant celebrities after they upset Iligan, also this year’s winner of the first Shakey’s V-League in Region 10 and defending champion of Mindanao Milo Little Olympics.
After winning the second set, the MisOr tossers of Coach Jennifer P. Abut were lagging again by 5 points, 17-21 in the deciding third set. But they never gave up. Together, they buckled down to work to orchestrate the biggest upset of the day.
“Peldi gyod,” Iligan coach Leo Garcia told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
“Ang uban sa mga bata medyo off-form. And it can happen to any team,” he said.
Starring in MisOr’s biggest win are team captain Chrislyn Uy, Jicca Jagonal, Wendelyn Anggot, Jessa Laray, Charmagne Buntag, Gwendelyn Cajilla, Ella Cajilla, Ella Cajilla, Paulyne Sabigsal, Ivey Baello, Joules Bodiogan, Jubiltea Cabingas and Chamberlayne Cuñada.