UC grabs lead from USC

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Cebu (UC) chose the penultimate day of the 2009 Milo Little Olympics to flex its muscle in trying to retain the title it has won for the last 13 years.

UC grabbed the lead from the University of San Carlos (USC) with 129.25 points. USC dropped to second with 107.50 points. Abellana National High School (ANS) is third with 72.75 points.

With a day left in the schedule, both UC and USC are expected to go all out for the coveted overall championship.

There are still 185 points up for grabs in badminton, chess, gymnastics, scrabble and volleyball.

Bernard Ricablanca of UC and Fr. Vicente Uy formerly of USC (now PSC commissioner) are both enthused about the chances of their squads.

UC’s domination of secondary (boys and girls) athletics and table tennis propelled them to the top of the leaderboard.

USC earned 30 more points when Sally Mae Siso led the girl’s team over the University of the Visayas (UV) in lawn tennis. USC was gunning for a twin kill but its boy’s squad bowed to the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).

In the elementary division, a 10-year-old is carving her place in Cebu tennis history. Jana Pages of Bright Academy led her teammates in beating Banilad, en route to winning the Most Outstanding Athlete award, in the elementary division.

Abellana’s rise in the standings is due to the victory of its football squad, who retained the crown, with a come-from-behind victory over Springdale 3-2.

Springdale was leading 2-0 after the first half but allowed Abellana some headway in the second half. Carlito Abadia led the comeback with two goals while Jan Michael Canoy scored the other point.

In the girl’s division, Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) clobbered CIC Mandaue 5-2. It was double celebration as SHS-J also won the elementary crown by beating Don Bosco 2-0. Sabin Veloso scored all the goals.

An unfortunate incident soured yesterday’s action-packed day.

Carmeli Garovillo, one of Cebu’s best rhythmic gymnasts, withdrew from the competition after her father disagreed with the composition of the panel of judges fielded by organizers. Ricky Ballesteros tried to come up with a win-win solution but it didn’t appease Garovillo’s camp. Garovillo’s teammates, however, continued to compete.

While Garovillo will miss the national finals, sprinter Daniel Noval of Labogon National High School in Mandaue, is excited in competing with the best of the other regions. He gained a slot by winning the 100m and 200m sprint events.   (FREEMAN NEWS)