Cevees place third overall

MANILA, Philippines – Central Visayas bagged the third place honors with 33 golds, 42 silvers and 34 bronzes in the 1st Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 2010 National Games, which ended yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex here.

National Capital Region (NCR) was way on top of the medal standings with 173 golds, 42 silvers and 40 bronzes, with Region VI (Western Visayas) a distant second (40-75-54) and Region IV-A (Calabarzon) in the fourth spot (25-37-46).

Central Visayas may have ended still at third place this year, but Regional Head Dr. Amelia Biglete was happy because it's only a seven-gold difference against the second placer.

“Even if we haven’t reached Dr. Biglete’s challenge, she was still happy because we improved our gold medal difference against the perennial second placer, which is Western Visayas. And for her, our greatest consolation was that we were the most admired delegation during the opening ceremony,” said PRISAA-7 officer-in-charge Ryan Aznar of Southwestern University.

In last year’s Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games, CV was 35 golds away from Western Visayas.

Adding gold for Central Visayas at the end of the week-long sports conclave was Clint Anthony Armamento of the University of San Jose-Recoletos in badminton.

Alvin Seno and Mark Joseph Puentevella of the University of Cebu had a silver finish in badminton, while Floro siblings, Veronica and Patricia, got bronze in the distaff side.

The University of the Visayas sepak takraw athletes composed of Jonathan Pepito, Henry Danlag, Roymie Camacho, Charleton Belande and Arnold Niedo contributed five silvers.

In dancesport, Salvador siblings, Therese and Terence, of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation handed two silvers in the standard category. In the same category, last year’s gold medallists Princess Laurence Inocando and new partner Roi Rendon of UC only placed third. In latin category, Agnes Oliamut and Samson Ornales contributed two bronzes.

Meanwhile, the Queen City of the South got a good news as it will host next year’s week-long sports conclave.

CHED chairman Emmanuel Angeles formally announced Cebu’s hosting of the 2011 CHED National Games during the closing rites yesterday.

“We will give a big budget for next year’s CHED National Games in Cebu and I would see to it that from the opening ceremonies up to the closing ceremonies, all delegation from the different participating regions would be present during these events,” said Angeles. – THE FREEMAN