2005 PRISAA regional meet: Cebu swimmers rule

Host Cebu amassed 32 gold medals to snatch its first team championship crown in the 2005 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) regional meet held here at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Grabbing the first runner-up honors is Oriental Negros with eight gold medals and Bohol was third with two gold medals.

Lorhiz Echavez, Katrina Rubi, Andrei Yosef Ynclino and Andrew Dequiña provided the spark for Cebu-PRISAA as they lead their respective teams to the top of the medal podium.

Both Echavez and Rubi finished with four gold medals each to lead the women's team.

Echavez topped in 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke and 50m freestyle while Rubi won in the 50, 100 and 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley.

They were supported by Maribeth Mall Ababon, who clinched three gold medals and Clanel Celerio with one gold.

Oriental Negros saw the gold medal performance of Aishia Tenorio, who ruled two events while Bohol leaned on Janith Belano, also with two golds.

Ynclino, for his part, occupied the driver's seat in the swimming competition, winning five gold medals.

A nursing student of University of San Carlos, Ynclino was on top in the 50, 100 and 200m butterfly and the 200 and 400m IM events.

Dequiña was second with four golds while Antonio Yana, Jr. and Marlon Galo dominated two events.

With one gold medal for Cebu was Todd Aris Belleza.

Ian Rusiana of Oriental Negros won two gold medals.

Today, all the remaining 11 events will go full blast at their respective venues with the medal rich athletics event to kick off at the CCSC oval.

Badminton will be at UV gym, volleyball at the USC gym, basketball at University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Cebu Coliseum, chess at Velez College, taekwondo at CDU, table tennis at UC, sepak takraw at Southwestern University, baseball at the Mandaue City reclamation area, lawn tennis at USC main tennis court.

Dancesport, softball, the search for the Miss Mutya ng PRISAA and vocal solo have been cancelled. - with Caecent O. No-ot