CCSC hosting most of action

CEBU, Philippines - The dream of becoming big in sports begins today as the 2011 Milo Little Olympics-Visayas goes full blast mainly at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Before the battle begins, Milo Sports Executive, Pat Goc-ong reminded the young Bisdak athletes not to play complacent and be on their best at all times as they take on to a tough mission, that is a grand slam as National champions in the country's biggest privately funded event.

"The perpetual trophy is at stake. Be at your best. Don't think that we are the champions, we have to play hard," Goc-ong said in simple opening ceremonies attended by thousands of athletes seeing action.

The Visayas team, also known as the Bisdaks, won back-to-back titles in the National MLO and their mission is to win this year's National finals set in Lingayen, Pangasinan this November.

Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman Edward Hayco was also present at the opening rites representing the Cebu City government.

Hayco who's very passionate about grassroots development hopes that this kind of event will highlight not only the well-known sports but also the less-popular events to give athletes the opportunity to gain more confidence just like sepak-takraw artist Rhey Jey Ortouste, who lit the urn of peace and unity.

Ortouste, the youngest player to become a member of the RP sepak takraw team that will see action in Indonesia on November, is one of the products of this Nestle Philippines-sponsored event.

With more Cebuanos getting slots in the RP team in sepak-takraw, local athletes are getting more interested in the sport.

Today, there are 17 schools seeing action in secondary sepak takraw and 16 in the elementary division's sipa.

Aside from sipa and sepak takraw, other sporting events featured in this year's edition are athletics, badminton, chess, football, gymnastics, tennis, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, and volleyball.

Events held outside CCSC are chess at Elizabeth Mall's activity center, tennis at Alta Vista for secondary and Baseline Sports and Recreation Center for elementary.

Sipa and sepak takraw will be held at the Labangon Elementary School, table tennis at UC's table tennis training center, taekwondo at the Mabolo Sports Complex and volleyball in Zapatera Elementary School for the elementary girls.

Mabolo National High School hosts elementary boys volleyball, Lahug Elementary School for the secondary boys and Bo. Luz Elementary School for the girls' division volleyball.

A total of 5,968 athletes are seeing action spread in different sporting events.

Defending elementary division champion is the University of San Carlos with 128.75 points and the undefeated University of Cebu in the secondary level.

SIDE EVENTS

Yesterday's opening saw the 5'7 Gazini Christina Jordi Ganados crowned as Miss MLO-secondary division.

Only her second time to join a beauty contest, Ganados a graduating student of Thrice Admirable Montessori of Talisay bested 28 other contestants.

San Isidro Parish School's Rohini Rozzane Dovanila was first runner-up and Cebu City Science High's Nicole Marie Wong as second runner-up while Abellana National School's Dione Cathleen Melgar got the best in production award and Johanney Gesto of University of the Visayas as Miss Personality.

From intramurals and division meet, Mambaling's Jonabil Juliano levels up after winning the Miss MLO-elementary division title while Lahug's Leila Catacutan got the best in production award and Samantabhadra's Rani Lauren Duterte as Miss Personality.

In the cheer dance contest, for the fifth straight year, Cebu City Central School ruled the elementary division.

The rain did not dampen the mood of the young cheer dance squad of City Central School, which won the title and the P15 thousand cash prize.

Zapatera and University of San Carlos-Basic Education were second and third, respectively.

USC, however, managed to bounce back in the secondary level as it emerged champion over Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion-Cebu while Talisay City National High School wound up third.

City Central also got the biggest delegation and loudest cheer award while USC got the elementary and secondary division's best in saludo contest.

Other awardees were ANS as secondary division's biggest delegation and loudest cheer while Pardo Elementary School and Sisters of Mary were adjudged as most disciplined. - THE FREEMAN