UNSTOPPABLE NIÑOS

Cebu City pulls away in medal standings of CVIRAA meet to virtually seal 24th crown

A Cebu Province booter trips in a game against Bohol Province at the Teodoro “Doring” Mendiola Sr. Sports Field and Oval at the City of Naga.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON

City of Naga — Cebu City collected 35 more gold medals yesterday to virtually run away with its 24th-straight overall title in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet which will bring down the curtain today, here.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the Niños collected 197 medals including 89 golds, 57 silvers and 51 bronzes in the official tally released by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Mandaue City is poised to retain its runner-up finish after jumping from third to second spot with 118 medals (43 golds, 37 silvers, 38 bronzes) while erstwhile leader Bohol Province, dropped to third with 125 medals (35-30-60).

Cebu Province is in fourth spot with 100 medals (27-33-40) while Talisay City placed fifth with 50 medals (19-15-16).

Shiela Siervo of Cebu Province performs her routine in wushu at the NPC Colon Elementary School covered court.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON

The Niños added four more gold medals in swimming which ended last Wednesday at the Cebu City Aquatics Center (CCSC) courtesy of Karen Mae Indaya (200m freestyle), Junvic Tiro (secondary boys 100m breaststroke), Justine Garrido (secondary girls 100m breaststroke) and their secondary 400m freestyle relay. They also won two athletics golds in secondary and elementary 4×100 relay.

TEAM EVENTS

Cebu City also got a bagful of golds in the team events. It dominated secondary boys and girls lawn tennis worth four golds, table tennis boys elementary and secondary also worth four gold medals, secondary boys and girls chess worth four gilts, secondary boys and girls volleyball and secondary girls softball and boys baseball.

GYMNASTICS

The city’s gymnasts also frolicked at the Minglanilla Sports Complex with 14 gold medals. Daniella Reggie Dela Pisa bagged six gold medals in the elementary competition while Marianne Alegado won five in the secondary class aided by Diane Sophia Navarro’s two gold medals and Eunice Odag’s lone gold.

Jancork Cabahug of Cebu City fires a three-pointer against Mandaue City at the Enan Chiong Activity Center.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON

The Niños are eyeing more gold medals today after marching to the championship rounds in basketball and football set early today.

BASKETBALL

The Niños secondary basketball squad manned by the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers stunned defending champion Mandaue City represented by Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), 83-65, at the Naga City Gymnasium yesterday.

UV’s big man Jancork Cabahug poured 29 points as Cebu City guns for the gold against Bohol Province which routed Lapu-Lapu City, 81-45, in their semis match.

FOOTBALL

In football, Cebu City and Bohol Province will play for the gold medal at 7 a.m. while the Niños elementary booters will face Mandaue City in the final.

In athletics, Bohol Province which already topped the competition, added four gold medals to its harvest after ruling elementary and secondary boys 4×100 relay, secondary boys pole vault courtesy of Lyndon Millanes and secondary boys 5,000m run through Johnrey Socorin.

Mandaue City added three golds after ruling the secondary girls 4x100m and 4x400m relays and secondary boys 4x400m relay. It also collected eight gold medals for topping at arnis.

Swimming champion Talisay City added two more golds courtesy of John Philip Kong (elementary boys 100m breaststroke) and its secondary girls 400m freestyle relay.

CLOSING

The meet’s final medal tally will be announced before the closing ceremonies set for 2:30 p.m. at the spanking-new  Teodoro Mendiola Sr. Sports Field and Oval. Thirteen divisions competed in this year’s CVIRAA whose winners will represent the region in the Palarong Pambansa this April in Albay.