Cevees grab four golds

DAPITAN CITY, Philippines - After a not-so impressive start, Central Visayas bounced back with four gold medals in archery, lawn tennis and athletics events of the 54th Palarong Pambansa yesterday here at the Jose P. Rizal Memorial State University Sports Complex.

Multi-titled archer Marie Crizabelle Merto of Dumaguete City bagged two golds in the secondary girls division at the ZN Sports Complex Archery Range.

After reigning supreme in the 40-meter distance, Merto of Silliman University grabbed one more gold in the 30m category.

On the other hand, Kit Vincent Pelletero from West City Elementary School in Dumaguete produced CV's first gold in athletics after dominating the elementary boys long jump event with a distance of 5.76m.

The 12-year-old jumper was very glad that he was able to sustain a golden finish in his favorite event, which he also dominated last year.

“I’m happy that my hardwork and the daily training paid off. I really aimed of finishing this event on top not only for myself but for the region,” said Pelletero.

In secondary lawn tennis at Dakak tennis courts, Sally Mae Siso, Crissiane Issa Kintanar, Hanna Expinosa and Christine Bellita fended off Region III to claim the team championship.

Siso, making her final bow in the Palaro, trounced Region 3 in the singles, 8-2, while the duo of Kintanar and Bellita took the doubles event via an 8-5 decision.

Region VII also secured three silvers and three bronzes in athletics and lawn tennis, covering up their first day mess where they just ended up with a lone silver from gymnastics.

The silver medals were contributed by Steve John Vergara with two in the triple and long jumped Almar de Ocampo in discus throw with a distance of 30.96m.

Handing over bronze medals were triple jumpers Kit Vincent Pelletero (11.27m) in elementary and Earl Romielle Salinas (13.87m) in secondary division.

The elementary girls netters spearheaded by Jana Pages, Zathley May Alferez, Sheena Camporedondo and Shane Villareal ended the team competition with a bronze medal at Mibang Country Club.

Football

The CV booters thrashed their respective opponents at the Barcelona National High School field.

The Paref Springdale-manned elementary boys of coach Mario Ceniza blanked Central Luzon, 6-0, courtesy of Sabin Veloso, Jimmy Haosen and Enzo Ceniza with two goals apiece.

Region VII’s secondary bets composed of players from Don Bosco Technological Center, Abellana National School and Dumaguete crushed National Capital Region, 4-1, in their highly-physical match.

Roger Nieves contributed two goals in the first half but was not able to play in the second half due to a right leg injury caused by the intentional kick from an NCR player.

Volleyball

CV spikers stayed unbeaten in their respective divisions at the Dapitan City National High School.

The secondary boys from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) overpowered the equally-tough ARMM region, 25-23, 25-21 for its second straight win in as many starts, while the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) scored a twinkill in the distaff side, whipping Region IV, 25-23, 25-16 and Region IV-B, 25-14, 25-15.

Three-time Palarong Pambansa champion Catmon Elementary School also made it to two games in a row after routing Caraga region in straight sets. – THE FREEMAN