It's Cebu City again

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – The Cebu City Niños, as expected, proved their superiority in the region after bagging the over-all championship in the 2009 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet at the Gov. Mariano F. Perdices Memorial Coliseum and Lamberto Macias Cultural and Sports Complex.

After the weeklong multi-sporting event, Cebu had a total of 741.75 points. The big city athletes garnered 415.75 points in the secondary level and tallied 326 points in the elementary competitions.

Cebu Province made a final day surge and its athletics team provided the spunk to score 494.50 points and finish second.

Host Dumaguete City slid to third place with 289.92 points. Completing the top five finishers are Mandaue City with 239.75 points and Bohol with 228.09 points.

Basketball

Cebu City powered by the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers took the secondary division title after trouncing Mandaue City 81-61. In the elementary division, Cebu had to settle for silver after USC-NC lost to Dumaguete City 46-54 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex.

Football

Cebu’s little booters took the elementary title by trouncing Mandaue City via penalty shootout. In the secondary division, Cebu Province almost faltered but finally outgunned the host 2-1 for the title.

Chess

Cebu Province and Cebu City took turns in beating each other for the titles in secondary and elementary levels, respectively. Cebu Province prevailed in the high school level relegating Cebu City to second place. In the elementary division, however, it was Cebu City on top while Cebu Province settled for second place.

 Baseball & Softball

The batters from Cebu City took the baseball and softball golds. Cebu City routed Cebu Province in baseball while the girls’ softball team pummeled Bogo City.

Volleyball

Cebu Province beat Bogo City for the title in the boy’s secondary division. In the girl’s event, the University of Southern Philippines-powered Cebu City team lost to Lapu-Lapu City.

Sepak Takraw

Cebu Province team composed of the Tibay brothers, Mark Anthony and Mark Vincent, and Elvis Gilbuena grabbed the title in the secondary competition by beating Cebu City.

Boxing

Mandaue City won two gold medals in secondary level boxing courtesy of Banden Tabares and Lorenzo Michael Romarate. Tabares knocked out Orlan Vasquez of Bohol in the 45-kg division while Romarate out pointed Melvi Besinga of Tagbilaran City in the 48kg.

This year’s CVIRAA Meet officially ends this morning with the awards ceremonies scheduled at 8:00 at the Gov. Mariano F. Perdices Memorial Coliseum. -THE FREEMAN