Market vendor’s son steals show

STA. CRUZ, LAGUNA, Philippines – Inspired by his mom who single-handedly take care of him by selling vegetables at a public market in Jaro, Iloilo, rising track and field star Morito Perez did everything he possibly could to make his debut in the 7th Milo Little Olympics National Finals a memorable one, bucking off a hamstring injury to produce Team Visayas' first gold medal in the three-day sports conclave at the Laguna Sports Complex here.

Though he was still hurting, Perez fought with high hopes in his heart and big dreams in his mind on the way to top the second boys 800-meter race with the time of two minutes and five seconds.

What made his triumph extra special is that he was just two-tenths of a second ahead of North-Central Luzon's Keann Melendez. National Capital Region-South Luzon's Christopher Ecija settled for bronze with a 2:05.9 clocking.

"Na-injured po ako sa training pagkatapos ng regionals pero sinikap ko pong makapaglaro nang maayos para sa mama ko," said the 17-year-old former sprinter.

Perez, who was only two years old when his parents broke up, hopes that his victory will open the doors to better opportunities for him to finish school and eventually uplift their living condition

"Gusto ko talagang maging proud sa akin ang mama ko at mabigyan siya ng magandang buhay pagdating ng  panahon," said Perez, who sometimes helps his mom sell vegetables in the market during his free time.

Trying his luck in running was a tough journey for Mendez. From being a sprinter who oftentimes in the losing end, he moved to middle-distance running where he finally made his mark.

'Lagi akong talo dati kaya nag-decide akong mag-shift sa middle distance. Di nga lang ako nakasali sa Milo  Olympics nitong mga nakaraang taon dahil wala pong budget yung school namin. Nakasali lang po ako nung dito na sa Iloilo ginawa yung regional qualifying," added Perez, who is gunning for a golden double as he also competes in the 400m run.

As of this writing, Team Visayas leads in the secondary athletics with five golds, five silvers and a bronze, while its elementary bets got a silver and bronze, so far.

The other gold came from Shanelle Demilys Siasoyco in girls shotput with a distance of 9.90m. Her teammate Allyson Dalantoy bagged the silver in 9.13m.  Team Visayas also had a 1-2 finish in the 100m hurdles, with Ezel Divinagracia winning the gold with the time of 15.3 seconds, just three-tenths of a second ahead of her teammate Britney Moira Cañete.

Cañete, however, has something to celebrate about after emerging as the fastest in the girls century dash with the time of 12.3 seconds. She was trailed by her teammate Bernaluz Talaron.

Long jumper Stephen Pekitpekit handed a silver along with Mike Lawrence Lopez and Anne Carrie Gatpolitan in the 100m run. Heinreich Peralta got a bronze in the 800m race.

In swimming, 12-year-old Raven Faith Alcoseba swept the golds in four individual events she joined in her maiden stint in the secondary division, all with a personal best time.  The bemedalled Talisaynon tanker lorded it over the 400m freestyle (4:52.06), 100m free (1:09.88), 200mm individual medley (2:34.86) and the 200m backstroke (2:31.07).

In the elementary department, Kyla Soquilon from Kalibo, Aklan added  strength to Team Visayas' bid also with four golds through the 100m backstroke (1:15.71), 50m butterfly (32.76), 50m free (30.19) and 50m backstroke (35.52).

In scrabble, Team Visayas scored a double victory at the CLA Mall, with its elementary bets posting 4,906 points through the efforts of John Speed Eslao, Chairylle Bucao, Trinah Martinez, Yurri Mayol and Anne Rallos and its secondary squad manned by Franz Baguiran, Viccel Libradilla, Gene Therese and Kate Montes and Jullifer Tuba garnering 5,273 points to snare the gold.

Team Visayas also showed big fighting heart in secondary basketball, with the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu overhauling a 20-point deficit in the first half to posting a 74-70 win over Corpus Cristi School of Mindanao.

In secondary football, the Bisdaks powered by Paref-Springdale booters dumped Mindanao's Ateneo de Davao, 7-1. Ryan James Hausen nailed  four golds, while team captain Enzo Ceniza, Sabin Veloso and Mark Nacional contributed one goal each. In the elementary level, Team Visayas represented by the University of San Carlos while NCL, 6-0.

In volleyball, the secondary spikers from the University of San Jose-Recoletos defeated Mindanao in straight sets, 25-23, 25-22, while the comebacking Catmon belles spared no mercy in a 25-5, 25-3 demolition of NCL. (FREEMAN)