Gold rush continues Cevees close in on second straight PRISAA national title

CEBU, Philippines - Host Central Visayas scooped 23 gold medals more to shore up its chances of claiming a second straight overall championship in the 2012 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Collegiate Games, which heads into its penultimate day of action at the Cebu City Sports Center.

After Day 3 of the week-long sports conclave, Central Visayas now collected a total of 103 medals broken down into 55 golds, 20 silvers and 28 bronzes to solidify its hold of the lead.

Region IV-A (Calabarzon) stayed at second place with 28 golds, 23 silvers and 28 bronzes, just a gilt ahead of Region VI (Western Visayas) with a 27-26-26 medal tally.

Region XI is at fourth spot with a g-s-b medal haul of 8-27-28 followed by Region I (5-6-9), Region III (4-3-9), Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) (2-11-3), Region XII (2-7-8), Region V (2-6-8) and Region II (2-2-3).

“We’re happy with the outcome, so far. The rigid training of our athletes really paid off. We’re closer to achieving our goal this year. I’m pretty confident that our athletes will make it big this season, ” said PRISAA project director and University of Cebu (UC) athletics director Bernard Ricablanca.

Multi-titled tanker Loren Dale Echavez swept six golds in all her individual events, but fell short of her target of a perfect 7-of-7 as she and her teammates Rozelle Diaz, Lorens Goyenechea and Abegail Sakib only settled for bronze in the 800m freestyle relay with a time of 12 minutes and 31.82 seconds.

The 18-year-old BS Biology student from the University of San Carlos (USC) still ended her campaign with a big bang though by breaking her own record in the women’s 400m freestyle with a time of four minutes and 54.66 seconds, just .34 seconds faster than her previous mark.

In the men's 800m freestyle relay, CV won the gold courtesy of John Pete Guno, John Solon, Edgar Allan Jarina and Jebb Cane with an aggregate time of nine minutes and 22.92 seconds.

In athletics, Ernesto Ybañez claimed his third gold medal after topping the triple jump event with a distance of 14.94m, while Irin Baluran topped the women's division with a leap of 11.95m for her second gold.

Mary Joy Tabal also snared another gold in the 3,000m with a time of 10 minutes and 48.9 seconds, while Ayana Andrey Naron ruled the women's javelin throw with a distance of 30.46m.

In taekwondo, Jennesa May Vergara turned over gold for Central Visayas in the featherweight category, while the CV smashers composed of Clint Armamento, Jeffrey Lepaopao, John Densing and Jie Charles Plaza overpowered Region XII, 25-23-21-19, to grab the title in men's badminton.

In women's lawn tennis, the Siso sisters Sally Mae and Sallydine along with Kezia Adelyn Jabines and Christine Bellita had a golden finish after thrashing Region XI in the finals, 8-3, 8-1.

Bernardine "Niño” Siso, on the other hand, secured the men’s singles title after thumping Region III, 8-2. His sisters Sallydine and Sally Mae will try to secure another gold in the women’s doubles as they advanced to the finals after beating Region IV-A,, 8-2.

Reigning National Open champions Elonna Dane Tormis, Jennifer Jacalan, Jerny Kay Pepito, Candy Babalcon and Hanna Arroyo bagged the women’s team title in table tennis event. (FREEMAN)