Visayas opens defense of Milo Li'l Olympics title

MANILA, Philippines - Led by champion teams in volleyball and football, Team Visayas sets out to retain its overall title when the third edition of the Milo Little Olympics National Finals gets going today at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Simple but colorful opening rites precede the three-day games featuring 1,500 young athletes competing in 12 sports disciplines – athletics, swimming, tennis, taekwondo, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics, football, chess, sepak takraw and scrabble.

Visayas had a close call last year in Cagayan de Oro City, needing to fend off the National Capital Region in a last-day struggle to keep the crown.

This time, the Visayans intend to get out of the gate fast, according to Ricky Ballesteros, the team’s regional organizer.

“We are looking at a three-peat this year. That is Team Visayas’ goal,” said Ballesteros, adding the delegation has beefed up its taekwondo, badminton and table tennis contingents.

Also expected to stamp its mark for Visayas are Catmon Elementary School volleyball team, the reigning champion; the Don Bosco Cebu football team whose high school squad is the defending champion in the Palarong Pambansa; and the athletics hopefuls.

The Big City bets have traditionally ruled the centerpiece events of athletics and swimming and are expected to push for a golden surge in other events in its bid to end a two-year runner-up finish.

Visayas athletes amassed 568 points in their title drive last year largely through victories in gymnastics, badminton, sepak takraw and table tennis while NCR bets finished with 551.5 points, 220 of them coming from athletics and swimming.

Among the stars of Team Visayas is Rhey Jey Ortuste of speak takraw, already an internationalist, having seen action in the Asean tournament in Malaysia.

“These kids have shown they are the best in their schools, proved they are tops in their regions, and now they test the mettle of other athletes from different places in the country,” said Nestle Assistant Vice President and Milo Sports Executive Pat Goc-ong. “This competition promotes the development not only of skill but also of character.”

Also completing are delegations from Luzon and Mindanao that are expected to renew their intense rivalry in taekwondo and provide an interesting subplot to the games.