Niños pull away from rivals

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Niños dominated their rivals in almost all fronts as aside from athletics and swimming, they also raked in golds in gymnastics, archery, tennis and sipa during the third day of action in the 2012 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet here.

There still no official standings yet from the CVIRAA committee, but Cebu City is clearly leading the pack with 60 gold medals.  

In athletics competition at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex, University of Cebu’s Shantel Tanucan claimed her third gold after ruling the secondary girls triple jump with a distance of 10.18m, beating her teammate Jhevan Jean Baculot in 9.97m as Carine Gulfan of Cebu Province placed third with a leap of 9.85 meters.

Cebu Province athletes also showed their might in the athletics, with Guia Bucag winning double gold in the discus throw and javelin throw event with a distance of 37.21m and 28.88m, respectively. Mark Erwin Molde lorded it over in the secondary boys triple jump in 13.35m, defeating his teammate Leo Aronales (13.24) and Nino Vincent Soria (13.20).

Lovely Fe Andrin went strong for Lapu-Lapu City as he got two golds in the 800m run with a time of two minutes and 27 seconds and in the 1,500m, race with a 5:04 clocking.

Over at the Foundation University gymnasium, the gymnasts carried the day for Cebu City in both the elementary and secondary divisions.

The trio of Francis Ly Coyoca, Diane Navarro and Ginell Soronio gave Cebu City the first place honors in the elementary division of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. Navarro nailed two golds in the floor and vault events, Coyoca won gold in the floor category that saw Soronio taking away the silver.

Marianne Alegado bagged five golds in the elementary rhythmic gymnastics, while Desiree Padilla collected three gold medals in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.

Lady archer Rey Ann Flores grabbed two golds for Cebu City. Flores won the 50m event against Myla Agus and Phoebe Codera both from Mandaue City. She won his second gold in the 30m event against Agus and Dumaguete's Mikhaela Ponce de Leon.

Jujith Llando won gold, silver and bronze in the boy’s 50m, 40m and 30m events.

The elementary netters also shine for Cebu City as the tandem of Francisco Hidalgo Jr. and Marc Nicole Suson beat Niel Maxcel Amore and Renz Elson Englis of Tagbilaran City for the gold, while Kristeen Renee Salimbangon captured the gold medal in elementary girls singles event after edging out Jessa Maria Liquit of Bohol Province.

Gener Francis Lambayan failed to add gold for Cebu City as he bowed down to Siquijor’s Kenneth Banico in the boys singles finals. Cebu Province  ruled girls doubles after Edhel Krizia Parangan and Xandra Tabotabo dispatched Shedel Gicay and Cecilia Dayday of Danao City.

The Niños also reigned supreme in sipa, beating Bohol Province in the finals as Siquijor settled for third.

Majority of the remaining ball games will have their championship round this morning.  Cebu City manned by booters from Don Bosco Technical College advanced to the finals in the secondary and elementary level. The secondary team advanced after defeating Cebu Province yesterday at the Silliman University (SU) pitch, while the elementary squad matched into the gold medal round after whipping the hosts, 4-1. 

Cebu City’s secondary basketball team arranged a finals duel against Mandaue today at the ACSAT Gymnasium.

In elementary volleyball, Cebu Province, represented by the multi-titled Catmon spikers, will gun for its 10th regional title as it faces Bohol in the gold medal match. (FREEMAN)