City of Naga — After a tumultuous first two days, order was finally restored at the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet, here.
This after the Cebu City Niños, the meet’s 23-time overall champions, struck heavily on all fronts and collected 53 medals yesterday including 22 golds, 16 silvers and 15 bronzes to snatch the temporary lead from two-day pacesetter Bohol Province.
The Niños now have a total of 75 medals with 32 golds, 22 silvers and 21 bronze medals.
Karen Mae Indaya of Cebu City competes in the freestyle event of swimming in the 2016 CVIRAA meet at the Cebu City Aquatics Center.
CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO
Yesterday, they collected eight golds in swimming at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), added four in track and field, six in badminton and two each in taekwondo and archery.
Bohol Province dropped to second with 59 total medals including 14 gold medals, 24 silver medals and 21 bronze medals.
Last year’s second-placer Mandaue City, is in third place with 46 medals (17 golds, 14 silvers, 15 bronzes ) followed closely by Talisay City with 38 medals (22-6-10), Cebu Province with 32 medals (15-5-7) and Tagbilaran City with 20 medals (6-10-10).
CEBU CITY’S WINNERS
Karen Mae Indaya led the Niños’ surge at the pool by winning two individual gold medals in the secondary girls 100-meter freestyle and 100m butterfly while Sean Christian Monje topped the 400m freestyle elementary boys and Justine Garrido won the 200m breaststroke elementary girls.
The Niños also collected golds in the 200m freestyle and 200m medley relay elementary girls and boys, respectively, and swept the 400m medley relay boys and girls.
Cebu City won badminton golds through its secondary girls and secondary boys doubles, played by Eloise Canillo and Tricia Opon and Anthony Abellana and Canillo in mixed doubles. They also topped secondary boys and girls singles by Kathleen Verallo and Ryan James Doromal, respectively, and girls elementary singles by Chelsea Katrina Akiatan.
The Niños’ other gold medalists yesterday were Sebastian Blanco who ruled two archery events and taekwondo’s Mary Jocelyn Yllanto and Mary Rj Max who won the players three and four categories.
In athletics, Mark Angelo Sotto won his second gold by topping elementary boys javelin throw while Seth Abram Pilapil swept the secondary boys 100m and 200m sprint golds. Samantha Gem Limos ruled the 400m run.
Bohol Province crowned itself king of CVIRAA athletics yesterday by winning five more gold medals courtesy of Lord Michael Valle (400m hurdles boys secondary), Joshua Abitona (800m run and 400m run), Riza Jane Vallente (400m hurdles) and Theresa Mae Anata (400m hurdles).
SWIMMING
Back at the CCSC pool, Talisay City took home the swimming title after winning 17 gold medals including 12 it won yesterday.
Leading Talisay’s sterling performance at the pool were Raven Faith Alcoseba and Marielle Estreba who both won five gold medals apiece.
Alcoseba and Estreba added three golds to their collection yesterday after winning two on Tuesday.
Alcoseba topped the 800m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley (IM) while Estreba won in the 400m freestyle, 200m IM and 100m butterfly in the elementary division. Their teammates also chipped in six gold medals. Talisay also won two golds in athletics. Tagbilaran City won six gold medals in swimming with Rian Marco Tirol topping the 200m IM and 200m backstroke secondary division.
Meanwhile, Mandaue City’s vaunted badminton team manned by players from Banilad Elementary School bagged three gold medals after topping the elementary mixed doubles, boys doubles and girls doubles. Britney Cañete also collected two gold medals yesterday after dominating the secondary girls 100m and 200m runs while Shanelle Siasoyco added one in secondary girls shot put.
The winning athletes and teams will represent the region to the Palarong Pambansa this April in Albay Province.