NCR rules PRISAA National Games

NAGA CITY, Philippines – The National Capital Region survived a belated surge by Region 6 to emerge the most dominant contingent at the close of the PRISAA National Games here Saturday.     

Triumphs in men’s baseball, women’s softball and men’s football provided the cushion the Big City bets needed to ward off their Western Visayan rivals, who swept the gold in volleyball, sepak takraw, men’s basketball and the men’s team and women’s doubles in table tennis.

PRISAA medals are awarded based on the number of players fielded in the sports.

Because of this format, the battle for golds between NCR and Western Visayas was not settled until the last event of the Games – football – where 11 gold medals were at stake.

And the outcome was not decided until striker and tournament MVP Reynaldo Corton scored the marginal goal in overtime to give NCR a 1-0 win.

Banking on its prolific haul of 51 swimming golds, NCR finished with 106-36-33, relegating Region 6 to second (88-62-56).

The NCR bets got a big lift from victories in men’s baseball and women’s softball over Region 11.

The NCR batters, composed of the reigning UAAP titlists UST, found the going tough before subduing Region 11, 10-8.

The UST softballers, also the UAAP defending champs, routed Region 11, 19-1, in an abbreviated game.

In volleyball, Region 6 took the men’s gold with a 25-23, 21-25, 19-25, 25-23, 17-15 win over Region 7. Its women’s side subdued Region 7, 25-8, 25-22, 25-21.

Region 6, coached by former pro Donking Sasuman, drubbed Region 11, 78-64, for the men’s crown. Region 4-A cagebelles nipped Region 6, 72-70, in the women’s side.

Region 7 won in lawn tennis through Kennex Abadia (men’s singles), Jeneveb Petecio and Lovelie Soquino (women’s doubles), Abadia and Floreza Alesna (mixed doubles), and men’s and women’s team.

Region 12’s Alyssa Callejo topped the women’s singles and Region 11’s Jecco Lapiz and Dexter Looc the men’s doubles.

Region 6 and Region 9 were the biggest winners at the close of the karate competitions. Region 6’s Cesar Jeanjaquit and Jee Marie Espeja swept the men’s and women’s -65-kg kumite while Region 9’s Abdul Saraani ruled the men’s -70-kg kumite and Reyner Gregorio the men’s +70-kg kumite.