Central Visayas seals bid with golden performances: But Region 7 placed only fourth overall in Palaro

STA. CRUZ, LAGUNA, Philippines — Central Visayas sealed its campaign with golden performances in volleyball and football events, but Region 7 finished only fourth overall in the 57th Palarong Pambansa, which came to a close yesterday at the Laguna Sports Complex here.

After the week-long sports conclave considered as the Olympics of the country's elementary and high school athletes, Central Visayas could only make it to fourth in the standings with a total of 92 medals broken down into  24 golds, 27 silvers, and 41 bronzes.               

As expected, perennial powerhouse National Capital Region romped off with the overall championship with a staggering medal haul of 107 golds, 64 silvers, and 56 bronzes.

Host Calabarzon wound up second with a 38-51-51 gold-silver-bronze tally, while Western Visayas placed third with a 32-33-38 count. The fifth to 10th placers were CARAA (24-11-12), NMRAA (21-21-31), SOCCKSARGEN (15-17-30), DAVRAA (10-20-21), BRAA (9-6-22) and CLARAA (8-11-22).

Central Visayas ended its bid with a double gold in elementary volleyball and football. Powered by the spirited spikers from Catmon, CVIRAA blasted Calabarzon in the final match, 25-14, 25-19 to reclaim the crown they lost last year in Dumaguete City.

It was her sixth Palaro title, but for coach  Vilma Veloso, it always feels like the first time.

"It's always different everytime. Winning really needs patience and so much hardwork," said the multi-titled Veloso.

CVIRAA failed to come up with a golden double though as its boys squad bowed to Western Visayas, 25-15, 25-23.

Over at the sports complex's center field, CVIRAA's elementary booters rose to the occassion, coming up with a resounding 3-1 win over Calabarzon in their gold medal match. Among those who figured prominently for the region's triumph were Jascha Mari Tabar, Angelo Colina and Rommel Ramirez.

In secondary football, however, CVIRAA settled for only bronze after defeating Zamboanga Peninsula, 6-2. The same goes to the region's basketball squad after it prevailed over Western Visayas, 84-78. CVIRAA took another bronze in secondary girls basketball after it bested Davao Region, 59-56.

Archer Vincent Villa emerged as the most bemedalled athlete from the CVIRAA contingent with four golds in archery.

The rest of the region's gold medallists were Mayn Xengelle Coran, Eric Garces, Ralph Tagarao, Anne Sharmaine Albarracin, and Aidaine Krisha Laxa in taekwondo, Jonalene Clavano, Junmar Junas and Armando Anora in archery, Chris Aldritz Pondoyo and Jeremy Tanudra in chess, Eunice Ginell Soronio in gymnastics, Francis Bendebel in table tennis, Arthur Craig Pantino in lawn tennis, Martin Jose Sayson in swimming, Lloyd Antoque in boxing, and Carl Bernard Bejasa, Lyrden Laborte, Justin Daniel Anglo, and Jazmine Benemirito in badminton. (FREEMAN)