Marikina City – Despite losing the overall crown to bitter rival National Capital Region (NCR) in the recent 6th National Milo Little Olympics, Team Visayas took some consolation from 18 of its athletes, who were named as Most Outstanding Athletes (MOA) of the weekend games.
The Bisdaks also failed to defend their Perpetual Trophy after NCR won its third straight overall crown last Sunday in the two day meet held mainly at the Marikina Sports Center.
NCR tallied 647.5 points against Visayas’ 563 tally in the 13-sport meet. Mindanao placed third with 436 points while Luzon was fourth with 393.5.
NCR also has 19 MOA awardees, Mindanao has seven while Luzon has six.
Team Visayas’ MOAs were led by top athletics winners Ninolito Justiniane of the Beatriz Durano Memorial National High School of Danao City and Ilo-Ilo National High School’s Elrica Anne Guro who won four and three gold medals, respectively. They also had one silver medal each.
In badminton, Banilad Elementary School’s Zinah Marichelle Bejasa was named MOA while University of San Carlos’ (USC) Daniel Santos and Nicael Cabanero won MOA for elementary basketball after they were named best guard and best forward in the event despite placing only second to Mindanao.
In secondary basketball, USC’s play maker Kent Vincent Moral and forward Ken Gato as well as center Steven Angelo del Ocampo snatched MOA awards for winning the crown.
University of the Visayas’ (UV) Daniella Reggie dela Pisa was the lone Visayan gymnast who bagged a MOA in the elementary girls division while USC’s Laila Camel Nadera, Michael Benedicto Tuba and Frances Dianne Lim won MOAs for secondary chess.
Don Bosco Technology Center’s Joaquin Buyco and Charles Unabia were the MOA awardees in elementary football after DBTC won gold in the event.
Asian College of Technology’s Psalm Deniel Aquino claimed the top individual award for elementary boys swimming after winning six gold medals while Sherlyn Love Gabisay of Beatriz Durano Memorial NHS won the MOA for secondary girls table tennis.
Saint John’s Institute of Bacolod produced a MOA winner in Cris Hiraldo for elementary girls taekwondo.
Bright Academy’s Shyne Villareal was the MOA recipient for girls lawn tennis while Subangdaku ES’ Matthew Gabriel Navarce bagged the MOA for elementary boys volleyball.