Reg 7 retains 4th spot, NCR rules annual meet

Lingayen, Pangasinan— After some uneasy moments, Region 7 is poised to complete yet another fourth place finish in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa which comes to a close here, today.

As of 9:30 last night, Region 7 ranked fourth overall with 158 points while defending champion National Capital Region (NCR) is likely to bag another runaway championship as it tallied 453 points.

Region 6 was at second place with 331 points while Region 4-A had 230.50 points, good for third place.

Trailing Region 7 was Region 12 with 117.17 points, Region 3 was at sixth with 110 points followed by Region 10 with 99 points.

Region 7 still has a chance to inch closer to Region 4-A or pad its lead over Region 12 as it still has remaining team games which carry higher points.

The elementary football team will take on NCR in a semifinal battle. The semis was supposed to be played yesterday but was cancelled following a heavy downpour.

TEAM FINALS

The secondary football team also clashes with NCR for the gold while the secondary volleyball boys will take on NCR in a championship match. The elementary volleyball girls will face Region 6 also for the gold.

The initial tally shows Region 7 collecting 108.50 points in the secondary division and 49.50 in the elementary class as the Ceevies stayed on course for a top four finish after amassing four golds yesterday, two coming from badminton.

The Alma Flores-coached Ryan Jay Doromal and Janel Navarett topped the boys elementary badminton doubles while Doromal teamed up with Tricia Merced Opon in annexing the mixed doubles gold.

Also winning gold was Fritz Satera, who topped the secondary singles tennis with an easy, 8-1 win over Noel Damian Jr. of NCR.

Region 7 faltered in the championship round of the doubles event as Alexis Ondoy and Jude Tabotabo bowed to NCR’s Bruce Ivan Valenzuela and Hilbert San Jose, 8-5.

Region 7 also got gold in the elementary singles lawn tennis which featured an all Region 7 finals with Arthur Craig Pantino prevailing over Jan Godfrey Seno, 8-6, to win the gold.

The doubles tandem of Gener Francis Lambayan and Clyde Laquio settled for silver after losing to their Region 10 counterparts in the finals, 6-8.

CARMELI BIDS PALARO WITH 3 SILVERS

Region 7 failed to win a single gold in rhythmic gymnastics and swimming.

Carmeli Garovillo, a multiple gold winner last year, settled for silver in the secondary rope, ball and ribbon exercises. She also produced bronze in the hoop routine in her final Palaro stint.

AJ Melgar bagged bronze in the ball routine.

Patrick Birad settled for silver in the elementary boys 50m freestyle.

“It was a tough battle. Most of our losses were by touching. It’s not easy to beat NCR but we’ll bounce back next year, I promise that,” said swimming coach Lando Alvarez.

Joining the silver finishers were Opon and Lavell Laborte.

Coached by Eduardo Estoconing, Opon and Laborte joined Katrina Garing and Alyssa Dayday to win silver in the team tie.