Cebu City olympics Abellana zooms to early lead

CEBU, Philippines - Abellana National School (ANS) of Unit 9 took the early leadership in the week-long multi-sporting event in the Queen City of the South after amassing a total of 167 points to lead the overall ranking in the secondary division after Day 3 of the 21st Cebu City Olympics yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

ANS earned a lot of points from baseball, boxing, gymnastics, taekwondo, athletics, and for being the Best in Parade and Best in Saludo in the opening ceremonies.

The perennial champion, University of Cebu (UC), which was with Unit 5 in the previous staging, occupies the second place with 83.5 points while the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) is at distant third with 38 points.

Unit 2, on the other hand, leads the elementary division ranking after registering 66.5 points followed by Unit 4 and University of San Carlos-Basic Education (USC-BEd) with 62 and 55 points, respectively.

“Our ranking today (yesterday) is not yet an assurance that we will remain on the top spot until the final day because there are still many events going on. But at least, being the leading team at day three would serve as a morale booster for my athletes who are still playing in the other event to strive harder in order for us to end this tournament victoriously,” said ANS athletic director Francis Ramirez.

Athletics

UC tracksters bagged the overall championship in the secondary division with Kenneth Monzon and Tricia Mae Palasaran hailed as the fastest man and woman yesterday after dominating the boys and girls 100M events with times of 11.32 seconds and 13.73 seconds, respectively.

Monzon anchored the UC squad in clinching the boys 4x400 and 4x100 meter relay.

The other gold medalists for UC were Roy Villahermosa in the 400M event, Jelena Joy Dagatan in the girls’ javelin throw and triple jumpers, Jersell Cabatino and Kirstie Kaye Vinco.

In the elementary division, Unit 4 garnered five golds courtesy of javelin throwers, Jhudel Tuyar and Willis Bantoc, Ed Zairo Reyes in the 400m and the 4x100M and 4x400M relay.

Swimming

The UC Blue Marlins hauled 11 golds in the secondary division while Maria Montessori International School (MMIS) made a surprising finish after topping the elementary division at the first day of action of the swimming competition yesterday at the CCSC Aquatic Center.

Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Michael Ichiro Kong and Trina Caneda spearheaded UC’s medal haunt.

Kong dominated the 200M individual medley with a time of two minutes and 29.22 seconds clocking and in the 100M butterfly event in one minute and 5.55 seconds. He also anchored the 400M freestyle relay in 4:30.93 along with Robin Jacobsen, Israel Gabunada and Joshua Rosada.

Caneda, on the other hand, topped the 200M IM in 2:53.64 and 400M freestyle in 5:37.96.

Caneda, along with Romylin Ignacio, Bethmay Arellano and Marlyn Silva had a golden finish in the 200M medley relay (2:33.84).

The other gold medalists for UC were Romylin Ignacio (200M backstroke), Danielle Ballesteros (200M breast stroke), Bethmay Arellano (100M fly) and 400M freestyle relay.

MMIS’ gold rush was spearheaded by Brian Minerva, who lorded it over in the 50M breaststroke and 50M backstroke. He also joined Matthew Magale, Ramsay Macawile and Josh Magale in claiming the 400M freestyle relay gold.

The other two golds came from the boys’ 200M medley relay and girls 400M freestyle relay.

Cebu Eastern College (CEC) and UC, on the other hand, followed in the rank with three golds.

CEC’s Lyh Ann Navarro secured two golds in 100M fly and 200M IM while her brother, Anthony Navarro II took the other gold in the 100M fly.

UC’s Matthew Angelo Caneda poured in three golds in the 200M and 400M free and in the 200M IM.

Badminton

Unit 1 badminton players of Basak Community School bagged the overall championship crown in the elementary division after securing three titles out of four.

Mary Guenavier Camello and Lucky Cariphel Daclan took the girls and boys singles’ titles, respectively after defeating Almary Ybanez of Unit 8 and Steve Tibon of USC in their respective finals.

The tandem of Jill Florinda Sanoy and Marjial Jordan clinched the girls’ doubles title as they vanquished Lorie Cabalhin and Sterlyn Catana of Unit 6.

The boys’ doubles’ win was snatched by Chris Nino Quimbo and Neil Myco Sarsalejo of Unit 8 as they thumped Gian Carlos Navea and Syned Karsten Parangan of DBTC.

Boxing

Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Junreil Jimenez of Abellana National School (ANS) proved to be a tough opponent to handle as he overpowered Warren Gabumpa of Unit 5 in the junior boys pinweight division.

Pit-os National High School boxers, on the other hand, secured two golds courtesy of Kevin Jake Cataraja and Ramil Casanares.

Cataraja routed ANS’ Raymund Namucatcat in the light fly weight division while Casanares fended off John Lloyd Trasporte of Unit 8 in the light mosquito weight.

In the elementary division, Unit 8’s Dominic Castanares dominated the antweight division after beating Jeremy Entolye of Unit 6.

Taekwondo

Abellana National School and Unit 2 jins topped the secondary and elementary events.

ANS secured two titles courtesy of Bon Nico Quijano in the finweight class and Kylle John Flores in the flyweight.

USC’s Keith Brian Fernandez and SWU’s John Loi Gara also took the gold medals in the feather weight and welter weight.

Unit 2’s gold medalists were Sal Louis Estrada, Khryss Melchor Gabuya and Sal Luiji in categories 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

USJ-R’s Ma. Ashera Nicole Dayuday and Janica Crezil Ybarra topped the fin weight and welter weight division in the secondary girls’ class. Unit 4’s Jhari Raphaela Albero and Jean Maglasang, also secured twin titles in the fly and bantamweight, respectively.

Basketball

The University of San Carlos (USC), University of the Visayas (UV), Cebu Eastern College (CEC) and Paref Springdale secured semi-final seats after finishing in the top four list of the elementary division yesterday at Cogon Ramos basketball court.

USC thrashed Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC), 57-11. It was a double whammy for DBTC as they also fell prey to UV, 52-31, the other day.

CEC, on the other hand, clobbered University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R), 68-24, while Paref Springdale defeated Unit 8, 45-36.

Football

At the USC-TC field, defending champions Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) and Paref-Springdale booked semi-final tickets in their respective classes.

DBTC blanked Springdale, 3-0 in the secondary division in their clash yesterday.

However, the elementary division’s champ Paref Springdale bowed to Bright

Academy, 1-2.

Paref Springdale will try to secure a finals seat as it tackles DBTC in a curtain raiser semi-final battle this morning followed by Bright Academy against City Central School (CCS).

In the secondary division, DBTC face Maria Montessori International School (MMIS) while Abellana National School will try to beat Paref Springdale to enter the finals. (FREEMAN)