Niños rule gymnastics, swimming competitions
Dumaguete City—Team Cebu City is going on cruise control in the ongoing 2012 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet here, thanks to the dominating performances of its swimmers and gymnasts.
Cebu City’s elementary squad currently has 105 points while its secondary team has 85 points as the Niños currently lead the standings in an unofficial tally as of press time yesterday.
The Niños have gathered enough momentum entering the final stages of the meet with the sterling performances of their bets in gymnastics, swimming and sipa competitions. They are expected to hold on to the top spot as most of their teams in the ball games managed to reach the final rounds of this annual multi-sporting meet.
Cebu City’s gymnasts in the elementary and secondary divisions earned 15 points for dominating the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG), Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) and rhythmic gymnastics. Coach Lando Alvarez’ swimmers from the University of Cebu (UC) and Cebu Blue Marlins bagged a whopping 60 points in the elementary and secondary divisions while the combined players of Inayawan and City Central Elementary School chipped in 15 points in the sipa event. Cebu City’s tennisters also chipped in 15 points though they only won the singles event of the elementary girls games. Kristin Renee Salimbangon of Cebu City routed Bohol Province’s Jessa Marie Liquit, 8-2, for the crown.
GYMNASTS SHINE
Cebu City’s sipa team beat Bohol Province in the final round while gymnasts Francin Ly Coyoca, Diane Navarro and Ginell Soronio topped the WAG competition. Marianne Delgado and Nicole Luban won in the rhythmic gymnastics competition while their secondary division teammates composed of Jamela Moya, Desirey Padilla, Claire Arda and Tracy Badonio ruled the WAG and RG competitions. Swimmers Michael Ichiro Kong and Danielle Mae Ballesteros were the biggest contributors so far in the pool.
But the Niños are currently struggling in the athletics event after winning only four gold medals so far in the secondary divisions and two in the elementary division. Cebu Province leads with five gold medals in the secondary division.
Coach Arvin Loberanis said Cebu City only won a single gold medal today in the elementary division courtesy of Ralph Eduard So, who topped the 800m run.
“We are worried in some way but team officials still believe we can place first or second in the rankings of the elementary boys division,” said athletic coach Arvin Loberanis.
ARCHERS HIT MARK
In the archery event, Rey Ann Flores hauled in three gold medals as she topped the 30m,40m and 50m distances while teammate Jujith Llanto also got a gold medal after topping the 50-m distance.
Cebu City can still add more points in football as the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) football team, who represents Cebu City both in the elementary and secondary divisions, advanced to the next rounds. The team’s elementary booters beat Dumaguete City, 4-1, and will face Cebu Province in the finals today. The secondary team escaped Cebu Province, 2-1, to advance to the semifinals.
The sepak takraw team of Cebu City manned by the Abellana National School is also a win away from the gold while the basketball team both in the elementary and secondary will also be playing in the championship rounds.
The games, halted for a day because of typhoon Pablo last Tuesday, are expected to end today. Awarding ceremonies will then be held at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center this afternoon.
