UC rules again but SHS-J steals the show in Milo tilt

CEBU, Philippines - In the end, it's still the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters who had the last laugh.

With their 13-year reign under serious threat, the spirited UC athletes lived up to their lofty billing to snatch the overall championship in the secondary division, but Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) provided the biggest shocker following its landmark triumph in the elementary level of the 14th Milo Little Olympics Visayas Finals, which formally dropped off its curtains yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

While UC sky-rocketed to cloud nine, the University of the Visayas (UV) languished in disbelief as they were not only dethroned by the Sacred Heart but also came spiralling down to a measly 10th place in the elementary level.

After all the sleepless nights, the UC bets rejoiced with their hearts overflowing with joy and their eyes sparkling with pride as they retained their title with a total output of 184 points.

Abellana National School (ANS) blew it’s chances of dislodging UC from the top spot as it fumbled in the finals of boys volleyball and chess events.

UC sealed its fairytale campaign with a 1-2 finish in chess. Its boys squad emerged as champion with 14.0 points just a point ahead of SHS-J. ANS settled for third with 12.0 points.

In the girls side, the UC pawnpushers placed second behind the ANS, while the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) lifted the third place trophy.

In badminton, UC swept all the titles available in the boys and girls divisions.

Despite having no entry in gymnastics, football, tennis, scrabble, boys volleyball and sepak takraw, UC basked in the glow of success because aside from dominating chess and badminton, they raked in a whopping 60 points in athletics, 30 points each in swimming and table tennis, and nine in taekwondo.

“Although this is more than enough of an achievement, it is also a sort of a wake-up call for us. It’s time to re-evaluate our athletic programs and for the coaches to double up in training the players,” said UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca.

It is the first time that the organizers of the Nestle Philippines-sponsored athletic meet are applying the points system to determine the top performing schools and UC takes pride for being the inaugural titlist.

“What goes up, must come down. Eventually someone will gonna take the place of UC especially that some of the competing schools right now are showing a lot of promise. UC should better watch out," said Dr. Danilo Villadolid, one of Cebu's highly respected sports official.

In the overall rankings, UC posted a comfortable winning margin against ANS, which netted 148.5 points, while erstwhile leader University of San Carlos (USC) copped the third place honors with 114.35 points.

Rounding up the top 10 cast were the University of San Jose-Recoletos (77), UV-Main (63.75), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (51.25), Gun-ob National High School (30), Pajo NHS (27), Cebu Institute of Technology (25.5), St. Joseph's College-Maasin (24) and SHS-J (24).

In the elementary department, SHS-J snared the overall crown after its sterling performances in athletics, football, gymnastics and taekwondo that were accounted for the chunk of their 58.25 points.

SHS-J’s elementary booters, who blanked Don Bosco the other day, 2-0 were led by Pomeroy Mark Veloso, who scored both goals and not Sabin Veloso as reported.

Pomeroy Mark is a grade-6 pupil of SHS-J and son of Carl and Liza Veloso.

Basak Community Elementary School finished second with 49 points, while Pardo Elementary School landed third with 47.16.

The fifth to 10th placers were University of San Carlos (44.5), Talamban ES (43), Cebu Institute of Technology (42.25), Colegio del Sto. Niño(42), Banilad ES (41.25), University of Southern Philippines Foundation(41) and UV (39.5). – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)