Cebuana lass bags Palaro's first gold

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Cebuana Gia Bucag bagged the first gold in the 2009 Palarong Pambansa at the Leyte Sports Development Cente despite a weaker throw than her regional meet’s record.

The 11-year-old Bucag of Nangka Elementary School in Balamban grabbed the elementary girls javelin throw, the first final event in the week-long competition, with distance of 35.54m. He posted a 36-meter mark in the CVIRAA Meet.

“Sa akong paglabay ganina, ako gyud gihuna-huna nga maka gold ko. Ganahan gyud ko makadaug,” Bucag said.

Western Visayas’ Elisha Mae Cabuguason got the silver with 34.07m while the bronze went to National Capital Region’s Caren Magay with 33.01m.

The next two gold medallists of the day were Region VI’s Nino Espinosa in the secondary long jump with 6.63m and Region I’s Stephanie Cimatu in the secondary girls javelin with 36.64m.

CVIRAA’s lawn tennis and badminton squads won their first assignments. The Niño Siso-led CVIRAA squad posted a 2-0 mark against CABRAA.

CVIRAA’s badminton bets posted the same beating as its tennisters at the expense of CARAGA.

Ralph Bonsukan beat John Rubi, 21-18, 21-11 while the tandem of Ethan Sumpiton and Dexter Opulla dumped Nicole Curilan and Joshua Sagrado, 21-15,21-4.

Over at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Tacloban, CVIRAA, powered by the Cebu Province athletes, ended the day with 1-1 win-loss record. They won in the elementary level against CAR, 5-0, but lost in the secondary division to Zamboanga, 1-2.

Just like in football, CVIRAA’s volleyball squads met contrasting fates during the first day of competition.

The elementary girls saved CVIRAA’s day with a 25-22, 25-5 win against NCR, but its male counterparts lost to Region IX, 26-25, 19-25,10-25.

In the secondary level, CVIRAA’s female team bowed to Region IV-A, 25-6,25-11.

To make sure that the action in athletics will be finished on the scheduled date, organizers decided to hold some events today after the formal opening of the week-long sports conclave.

The kick-off salvo will be graced by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The country's chief executive will be joined by DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapuz and Governor Jericho Petilla of host Leyte Province among other luminaries. – THE FREEMAN