USC-BED kicks off title defense in City Olympics

CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Carlos-Basic Education fields in a mixture of new and seasoned athletes as its bids for back-to-back championships in the 24th Cebu City Olympics, which goes full blast today mainly at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The two-weekend action formally opened yesterday with no less than mayor Michael Rama and vice mayor Edgardo Labella gracing the affair.

In his speech, Rama said he is making sure that the City Council is putting education a priority that is why he approves of a bigger budget for it. Part of the funding in education is for sports.

“Let us not develop losers, but sport-minded students who know what real sportsmanship as well as good manners and right conduct is all about,” said Rama.

As the real battle commence, USC sports coordinator Saturnino Mayormita said he don’t know what will be their chances this time even if most of their athletes who brought them the overall crown last year are still around.                    USC though will be fielding in entries in almost all events including in demonstration sports except in wushu.

USC may be a force to reckon with in swimming, but Mayormita said he couldn’t say much in the elementary division since they are tapping mostly grade 3 and 4 student-athletes.

USC stands alone being a member of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Incorporated.

The public schools and other non-CESAFI member schools, on the other hand, will be divided into eight units coming from the North and South districts.

Athletics, swimming, scrabble, badminton, boxing, dancesport, football,karatedo and gymnastics willbe contested at the Cebu City Sports Center, archery at the Cebu City Science High School, arnis at Ramon Duterte gym, baseball at the Labangon Elementary School, basketball at Mambaling and Guadalupe gym, chess at DepEd-Cebu City, tennis at Baseline and Alta Vista, table tennis at University of Cebu-Main, taekwondo at Zapatera gym, and volleyball at Tejero ES, Lahug, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Southwestern University.

For demo sports, wushu will be at CCSC, billiards at The Kiosk, futsal at Don Bosco Technology Center and wrestling at Baseline Sports and Recreation Center.

The top performers of the multi-sport joust will represent the City in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association Regional Meet next year. (FREEMAN)