Palarong Pambansa ends with Region 7 in 5th place

The Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) ended the Palarong Pambansa 2023 at fifth place overall with 26 golds, 18 silvers and 35 bronzes at the end of the weeklong multi-sporting event in Marikina City yesterday.

CVIRAA mainly composed of Cebuanos athletes had the same ranking it had in the last physical staging of the event in 2019 in Davao City, but had more medal collection this time.

CVIRAA also placed fourth in the secondary division after posting 21-12-22 gilts while the rest of their medals were collected by its elementary bets.

NCR ruled the Palaro anew both in the secondary and elementary level with a combined efforts of 85 golds, 24 silvers and 55 bronzes.

The final day saw the CVIRAA booters reigning supreme in secondary football, futsal and basketball while its elementary counterparts ended with a bronze.

After 10 years, the crown had been returned to Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu after it upsets powerhouse NCR represented by the NU Bullpups, 77-73 in the final battle in secondary basketball.

Its female counterpart ended their bid with a silver in the 5x5 action.

The Don Bosco Technological College’s football squad silenced Calabarzon, 2-0 to win the secondary football.

Cebuano archer Aldrener Igot Jr. also made his efforts add more weight to the region’s collection of medals after winning a gold in the 70-meters, silver in the 60-meters and bronze in the 1,440 rounds. Earlier, Igot also secured a silver in the mixed competition with one of the most decorated athletes of this year’s Palaro, Naina Tagle.

Wrestler Heart Pahulayan also prevented a gold-medal shut out in girls’ wrestling after taking away the gold in the 40-kgs.class while Destine Sean Aliabo got the gold in the boys; 46 kgs. class ang Ghavy Quianzo in the 58 kgs. division.

The tandem of Raymond Benedict Goco and Hans Cabellon also did well after winning the gold in the secondary boys’ tennis doubles.

Meanwhile, Maria Emily Balunan also got another medal thru the 800-meter run in 2:23:84.

Cue artist Johari Elarcosa got the gold in the 9-balls billiard event.

CVIRAA’s secondary volleyball boys ended their quest with a silver after losing the  grueling final match to Central Luzon, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25,25-17,12-15.

CVIRAA’s secondary boys’ sepak takraw squad also ended with a silver in the regu as well as the secondary girls’ basketball squad while its boxing team ended with a silver and three bronzes.

Gymnast Mark Angelo Servila salvaged a bronze in the men’s artistic gymnastics’ horizontal bar while Kristienne Kaye Alicaya and Neve Gabrielle Mata also snatched the bronzes in the girls’ table tennis doubles event while two of CVIRAA’s  wushu artists also got a bronze each with Jovan Dealagdon in the 48-52 kgs. class and Junathan Visto in the 52-56 kgs. class while CVIRAA’s secondary boys’ 3x3 also ended with a bronze.

In the elementary side, CVIRAA also managed to get some more medals with Nino Joaquim Belecario winning the gold in the men’s artistic gymnastic-cluster 2’s vaulting table, and a silver in the floor exercise.

Another gymnast, Alyssa Claire Marie Cabahug ended her bid with a silver in the  WAG-cluster 1’s floor exercise and bronze in the balance beam while teammate Jazzmine Legaspi ended with a bronze in cluster 2’s floor exercises.

Jormaine Pinanonang, for her part, managed to take home a silver in the 100 hurdles with 17.69 seconds clocking while the secondary girls’ sepak takraw got a silver in the double regu.

CVIRAA also showcased its wares well in dancesports’ secondary division with Francis Dave Sombal and Mitchloni Dinauanao sweeping all six golds in the latin dances while Rhyss Rhafael Fajardo and Shadelle Hernandez handed three silvers and a bronze from modern standard dances.

Kate Elnar and Rhea Danag also grabbed a bronze each in pencak silat.

Unfortunately though, their medals are not counted yet as dancesports and pencak silat are both demo sports still.