USC-BED saves best for last

The University of San Carlos (USC)-Basic Education Department (BED) reclaimed its elementary title in the 16th Milo Little Olympics-Visayas finals behind a strong finish in chess late Saturday at the Cebu Sports Institute in brgy. San Nicolas, Cebu City.

USC-BED almost lost its title as it trailed Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) after the first weekend of competition.

But the Warriors made their move Saturday, banking on wins in tennis and chess to garner a total of 84.5 points.

The Eagles eventually placed second with 59.75 points while the Cebu Institute Technology-University (CIT–U) wound up third with 51.25 points.

USC-BED’s woodpushers claimed the boys and girls titles to add 30 points to its total, enough to surpass SHS-AdC’s output.

The Warriors, which was at seventh place after the first two days, started their comeback on Saturday with their powerhouse tennis team composed of John Godfrey Seno, Mark Suson, Arthur Craig Pantino and Francis Lambayan, bagging the title at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club tennis court for 15 points.

In the secondary division, the University of Cebu (UC) coasted to its 16th title as it finished with 182 points.

“I am very glad that the athletes’ performance improved through the years.  They have become better and better every year,” said UC athletics director  Barnard Ricablanca.

Abellana National School (ANS) placed second with 126 points followed by last year’s second placer, USC with 99 points.

USC finished strong in taekwondo, chess and badminton for a last-minute push in the secondary level.

UC and USC-BED will now lead a stronge Bisdak lineup that will vie for a third straight National Milo Little Olympics title in Linggayen, Pangasinan on Nov. 12, 13 and 14.

Visayas delegation head Ricky Ballesteros said that this will be the strongest Visayas team to be formed so far.

“We will give NCR (National Capital Region) a headache and so as the other teams,” said Ballesteros during the awarding ceremonies yesterday at the Elizabeth Mall.

The Visayas team won the maiden national meet in 2009 and successfully defended its title last year despite the strong showing of NCR.

The addition of teams from Negros has also made this year’s Visayas team even stronger.

Their bets in taekwondo showed potential in the regionals, giving the Bisdaks more gold-medal hopefuls in the coming national meet.

Negros Occidental Schools who will join the Bisdaks will be the Saint Scholastica’s Academy of Bacolod, Talisay National High School of Bacolod, Corazon Locsin Memorial Elementary School and Efigenio-Enrica Lizares Memorial School.

Ballesteros, along with technical consultants and the tournament managers, will be able to come up with this year’s complete lineup for Team Bisdaks within this week.