Iloilo stamps class in athletics, overtakes Negros

SOCSKSARGEN - Iloilo, making a big dash in athletics, overtook Negros Occidental in the race for overall supremacy in the provincial level of the Palaro ng Bayan, which came to a close yesterday.

The Ilongos went six of eight at the close of athletics competition yesterday in a last-ditch effort that toppled the Negrenses from the leaderboard and made a name for themselves in the first-ever Palaro.

Iloilo swept six relay events to formally crown itself the champion in athletics, and got one more in boxing courtesy of light vacuumweight Jeffrey Señeres, who defeated hometown bet Sultan Kudarat's Gil Cabrera in the boxing finals held at Sultan Kudarat.

The Ilongos also validated their lofty position as the football capital when their team from Sta. Barbara town blanked Cotabato, 2-0, in a spirited finals watched by a big Sunday crowd at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex football field.

The Ilongos have won a total of 27 gold in athletics, 11 silvers and eight bronzes.

But in all, or based on the unofficial count, the Ilongos have ran away with 34 gold medals, to go with 18 silvers and six bronzes.

Negros Occidental, though, refused to be shutout on a day of sudden mixed fortunes, as Ronnie Mondejar clinched a medal in boxing. Drawing a big lift from its swimmers, led by new sensation Rizzie Dadal, Negros Occidental had 33 golds, to go with 20 silver and 22 bronze medals based on the unofficial count. But officials have yet to release results of other events and the official medal tally.