USC dean’s lister ends Cesafi stint with a bang

USC men’s athletics Team Captain Ruel Algufera and his Coach Arvin Loberanis.
Glendale Rosal

Algufera wins three gold medals in final year with Warriors

Ruel Algufera is a dean’s lister at the University of San Carlos (USC).

At the end of this school year, the 22-year-old is expected to finish his Business Executive Resource Management course at USC.

So, he made sure that his last stint with USC in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) athletics competition would be a memorable one.

The Bayugan City-native did just that as he showed that he is an achiever both in academics and sports, bagging three gold medals and one silver in his final year in the Cesafi athletics competition on Sunday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

He topped the 1,500-meter run, 5,000m run, and was part of the 4x400m men’s relay team that won the gold. He also bagged a silver in the men’s 800m run.

The USC team captain for the men’s athletics squad said he owes all this success to USC, which recruited him in 2012 after seeing his talents in the Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City.

“Without [USC], I would not be able to finish my studies and become an athlete. I will surely miss this journey with USC,” said Algufera, a son of a foreman.

His three gold medals helped USC’s men’s team earn a total of five gold medals, one silver and six bronze medals in this year’s Cesafi competition. The University of Cebu (UC) still emerged the top men’s team with nine gilts, 10 silvers, and six bronze medals.

Algufera is one of six athletes from Mindanao who were recruited by USC in 2012. All of them are expected to finish their studies this school year.

He said that landing a spot in USC’s team paved the way for him to achieve his dreams.

“I never expected that one of Cebu’s top universities will recruit me to join their athletic team. I never hesitated to accept the offer, that is why I am very thankful for this rare opportunity that they gave me,” said Algufera, who started competing at the age of 12 for the Caraga Region in Mindanao.

“Back in Bayugan, there was no opportunity. No scholarships, no proper training. There was nothing there. All I had that time was a dream to finish my studies. Now, my dreams are slowly becoming real.”

Arvin Loberanis, Algufera’s coach at USC, attested to Algufera’s talents, adding that he isn’t just an outstanding student and athlete but also one of the most down-to-earth persons he has met and trained.

“He’s a role model to his teammates. He is one of the humblest persons that I met in my coaching career. So it’s pretty hard to say goodbye to an outstanding athlete,” said Loberanis.

Charlie Copelina, who won the gold in the men’s 800m run, is set to take over Algufera’s spot as team captain of USC’s men’s team next year.
According to Algufera, he is looking to put up a business of his own after he graduates.

“I want to open up a business when I graduate at the same time continue my career in running,” said Algufera, a member of the vaunted Spectrum Runners Club.

Meanwhilem, USC’s women’s team topped the division with an 8-10-6 (gold-silver-bronze) tally followed by the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (7-3-4) and UC (3-5-6).

In the secondary division, USC-Basic Education (11-9-3) topped the boys’ event while UC (6-8-2) was the girls’ title holders.