After copping two gold medals Tuesday, the booters from Muntinlupa seized two more courtesy of their boys 17-and-under and girls 12-and-under teams to pocket four of the five gold medals staked in the sport that is most popular in the world and the Southeast Asian region but not in the country.
Adjudged MVP Lorenzo Pinca provided the lone goal on a long kick from the side in the final half as Muntinlupa edged Tuguegarao, 1-0, for the boys’ 17-and-under gold while Lea Cruz spearheaded the charge in a 5-0 demolition of host Manila for the girls’ 12-and-under gold.
Over at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines grounds in Sta. Mesa, University of the Philippines completed a big upset by downing Adamson, 5-2, to cop the softball gold medal for 17-and-above girls.
Dione Macasu hurled a four-hitter to outdo Cloine Muyco in a much-awaited duel between the country’s top collegiate pitchers.
It was also Macasu who pitched a rare perfect game as the Lady Maroons took Game One, 1-0, in their best-of-three title duel.
The Lady Falcons came back in Game 2 with a 2-1 win to force a decider but couldn’t find the antidote to Macasu’s awesome pitching in Game 3.
Meanwhile, athletics, the centerpiece event of this week-long meet organized by the City of Manila and Manila Sports Council chief Ali Atienza, unfolds today at the University of Santo Tomas’tracks. — Joey Villar