Warriors expect dogfight in Milo Olympics title defense

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL. Isabela Bridgette Palang (left) of Talisay City National High School and Chealsea Bariñan of Lahug Elementary School were crowned Miss Milo Little Olympics 2017 in the elementary and secondary divisions, respectively.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

With fewer players and with the return of chief nemesis and 17-time winner University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, defending champion University of San Carlos-Basic Education (USC-BED) is feeling the heat as it tries to defend its overall crown in the 22nd Milo Little Olympics-Visayas Regional Finals which starts today in various venues around Cebu City.

USC-BED athletic director Saturnino Mayormita told Cebu Daily News that they are only fielding 197 athletes this year, compared to the more than 200 players last year because “a lot of our athletes have graduated and we skipped several events in the elementary division because only a few joined the try-outs,” said Mayormita.

Hurting USC the most was the phasing out starting last year of its entire scholarship grants of the athletic department in the elementary division and almost half of the secondary division.

According to Mayormita, they have a hard time recruiting new athletes to join the Warriors this year because of the phasing out of the scholarship grants.

“We tried to recruit athletes in the elementary division but only a few joined. But we are still hopeful we can retain our title because I am confident of our athletes’ training,” Mayormita added.

Mayormita said that they will focus on medal-rich athletics, table tennis, chess and badminton and picked UC, 2015 secondary division champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) and Abellana National School (ANS) as the biggest threats to their title retention bid.

Meanwhile, UC athletic manager Jessica Honoridez who is in Taipei, Taiwan for the 2017 Summer Universiade, said UC prepared hard for the Milo meet.

“We have prepared for the Milo Little Olympics and we hope for the best,” Honoridez said through a text message.
Fernandez thanks Milo

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon Fernandez during his inspirational message, thanked Milo for sustaining and nurturing the Milo Little Olympics for 30 years now.

“I know that Milo has produced a lot of elite athletes. Precisely when I was offered to become PSC commissioner, my one and only condition is to be based here in Cebu to take care of the Visayas program. Because I know this is where most of the athletes come from, our barangays. I would like to commend Milo for this activity that has been going on for 30 years already,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez also informed that the PSC Board has given its approval for PSC Visayas to hold a quarterly competition for 12 sports starting next year. Fernandez however, did not name the 12 sports covered under said peogram.

Also present during yesterday’s opening was Milo Sports executives Lester Castillo and Robbie de Vera, Department of Education (DepEd) Region VII administrative division chief Victor Intig and meet organizer Ricky Ballesteros.

A total of 5,490 athletes from 269 schools around Visayas will be competing in the three-day meet featuring 15 sports events.