Linggayen, Pangasinan — The coveted Perpetual Trophy now looms larger and closer for Team Visayas.
The two-time defending national champions struck solidly in all fronts yesterday to grab the temporary lead with a scorching start in the 3rd National Finals of the Milo Little Olympics, here.
The Bisdaks are also the first to post a score in the official tally board after ruling elementary and secondary scrabble held at the Lingayen Public Library good for 30 points while advancing to the finals in most ball games.
Team Visayas also engaged bitter rival NCR in a spirited battle for supremacy in the medal-rich athletics and swimming events which award 30 points to the champion.
The elementary netters from Bright Academy are also making good account of themselves after advancing to the final round at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.
“Our title-retention drive looks very bright. We are also in the finals of most ball games after our players won all their games in the first day,” said Visayas delegation head Ricky Ballesteros.
Bright Academy netters Alyssa Mae and Jaesel Marsha Bornia, Zethly Mae Alferez and Caitlin Mariel Lindsay stunned title favorite NCR represented by players from Saint Paul College.
“I think we can surpass our total points from last year,” added Ballesteros. “This year could be historic for us.”
The Perpetual trophy is awarded to the team that wins three straight overall crowns.
The University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) provided the first official points for Visayas after its elementary and high school word wizards topped their respective divisions.
ATHLETICS
In the medal-rich track and field event, Team Visayas picked up 11 gold medals after ruling the 200-meter run, 800m run, discuss throw, 100m dash, 110m hurdles, 4x400m relay, 100m hurdles, shot put and discus throw.
In swimming, Leane Monsera, Lyhann Navarro and Karen Mae Indaya gave Team Visayas the much-needed golds in the elementary division of the NCR-dominated event. Louie Birad and Michael Ichiro Kong also added gold medals for the Bisdaks after ruling the 50m and 200m butterfly events, respectively.
But Visayas suffered a big blow after its Sepak Takraw team, the Milo defending champion, lost to NCR and Luzon yesterday due to the absence of star player Rhey Jay Ortouste who is seeing action in the 26th SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia.
However, the Catmon Central School’s sipa team is just one win away from the gold after sweeping its matches yesterday against NCR and Mindanao. Catmon will face Luzon for the gold.
BOOTERS SHINE
The Don Bosco Technological Center (DBTC) booters both in the secondary and elementary divisions are also playing for gold today worth 25 points.
DBTC’s high school team annihilated Bagabag National High School of Luzon, 24-0 and NCR’s Mayamot High School, 15-0.
DBTC’s elementary booters, meanwhile, beat Mindanao’s Holy Cross Academy of Bukidnon, 4-2, and the Don Bosco Academy Elementary School, 2-0.
Visayas’ four volleyball squads also advanced to the final after routing their opponents yesterday. Volleyball awards 25 points to the champions.
The Visayas’ formidable volleyball squads come from Catmon Central Elementary School, Pajo National High School, Abellana National School (ANS) and the Colegio del Santo Nino which are competing in elementary girls, secondary girls, secondary boys and elementary boys, respectively.
Smashers from Banilad Elementary School, the perennial champions in elementary badminton are also in the finals after beating Luzon and Mindanao yesterday at the Divine Word Academy courts while the Southwestern University (SWU) girls secondary team also won over Luzon and NCR. The University of Cebu’s boys team lost to NCR but bounced back by beating Luzon.
Last year, Visayas bagged its second overall championship by escaping NCR in Cagayan de Oro, 568-551.5.