LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN, Philippines – Central Visayas capped its campaign with gold medals in elementary football and volleyball events but it could not spell any difference as the region is nailed at fourth place overall for the eighth straight year in the 55th Palarong Pambansa, which dropped off its curtains yesterday at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.
The National Capital Region dominated the ballgames including the coronation of its boys basketball team as the new champion to run away with the overall championship for the 10th straight year with 733 points followed by Western Visayas with 452 points and Calabarzon with 335.5. Central Visayas is at close fourth with 305.17 points.
Completing the 10 performers were Region X (170.50), Region III (157), Region XII (125.17), Region IV-B (117.17), Region I (97.01) and Region XI (96.50).
“I am so happy that our athletes have done their best. Competing is not just winning top awards for our own team. It is also seeing other teams do their best and winning awards, too. In short, all is well that ends well, with everyone feeling happy,” said DepEd-7 director Carmelita Dulangon.
In the final day of the week-long sports conclave for elementary and high school athletes, Central Visayas topped the elementary girls volleyball and elementary boys football but its secondary boys volleyball squad was denied of the title due to a spotty officiating.
In secondary boys volleyball, NCR topped Central Visayas, 24-26, 25-20, 14-25, 25-17, 15-12, but its victory was reeked with controversy after Central Visayas placed the result of that match under protest following a judgment call that it claimed affected the outcome of the game.
Central Visayas was protesting one hit by the NCR that was called out by one referee that would have knotted the count at 13-all. But one official called it a checkball, thus handing the point to NCR, which then seized a 14-12, or one win away from the gold.
NCR eventually won the last point and the gold, sending it to a frantic celebration while Central Visayas players to tears and its coaches to continuous protestations. Curiously, Central Visayas and NCR were a no-show in the awarding ceremonies.
“They presented their side and then they listened to the other side, too. The issue was settled by our DepEd officials and we graciously abide by that decision. Our athletes, coaches and trainers are imbued with the spirit of true sportsmanship,” said Dulangon.
On the other hand, the Catmon Elementary School-powered elementary volleybelles of coach Vilma Veloso secured a record fifth Palaro crown after crushing Western Visayas in three sets. The Cevees fumbled in the opening set, 13-25, but struck back in the next two sets, 25-23, 25-10 to ice their historic feat.
In football, Central Visayas manned by players from the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) bagged its third championship after fending off Northern Mindanao, 6-1, in the final with goals coming from Bayawan's Harrets Libatog with three, Jimmy Haosen of Paref-Springdale with two and Glenn Ramos with one.
The older Bosconians, however, settled for only silver after bowing to NCR, 1-0. (FREEMAN)