STA. CRUZ, LAGUNA, Philippines – Aside from clinching the overall championship to end a three-year title drought, Team Visayas also takes pride for having the most number of Most Outstanding Athletes in the just concluded 7th Milo Little Olympics National Finals at the Laguna Sports Complex here.
The Bisdaks have a total of 18 MOA awardees led by Cebuana tanker Raven Faith Alcoseda of Talisay City Science High School, who fished out four golds and one silver from the medal-rich swimming event, and Ilongga trackster Elvy Villagoniza, the lone double gold medallist from Team Visayas in athletics via the secondary girls long jump and triple jump.
The rest who excelled in their respective sporting disciplines were Ryan Doromal and Tricia Merced from Southwestern University (badminton), Gabriel Claridad of St. Roberts International School (basketball), Raniel Jay Perandos, Angel Naureen Bagano, Jeffu Dorog and Laila Nadera of the University of San Carlos (chess), Enzo Ceniza of Paref-Springdale (football), John Speed Eslao and Viccel John Libradilla of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (scrabble) and Canciano Llenos and Florans Camacho (volleyball).
Also making up the list of top individual achievers from the Visayas region were Valladolid Elementary School's Ariel Beronio, University of Cebu's Sal Luiji Estrada and Saint Mary's Academy of Capiz's Mikee Rose Regala (taekwondo), and Catmon Integrated School's Maxim Czarina Estay (volleyball).
On the other hand, the MOA awardees from the National Capital Region-Souh Luzon include Jerome Garcia, Alexandra Euste and Jonathan Pulido (athletics), Nestojan Tapales (badminton), Louell Jay Gonzales (basketball), Krystal Mae Maquidato and Jhazelle Louise Limenzon (gymnastics), John Michael Roca (sepak takraw), Ted Jacob Laminta and Richmond Santos (swimming), Mark Enrico Elludo and Jann Mari Nayre (table tennis), Dawson Ormoc (tennis) and Jose Antonio Madrigal (volleyball).
Mindanao has nine MOA recipients in Maxene Olango (badminton), Naz Rafele Angelo (football), Jerhard Isaw (sepak takraw), Aubrey Shelan Bermejo (swimming), Aljon Bazar (taekwondo), and Nash Agustines, Farrah Kris Emata and Janelle Carmela Llavore (tennis).
Like in the previous editions of the annual sports concave, the organizing Milo Philippines hopes that these most outstanding athletes will continue to hone their skills as they endeavor to be a good influence to others and bring pride not only for their respective schools but also for the country in major competitions someday. (FREEMAN)