PRISAA NATIONAL GAMES Region 7 pads gold medal haul to 22

CEBU, Philippines – Central Visayas maintained a good showing in all ball games as it now has 22 golds, 19 silvers, and 21 bronzes in a modified medal count in the 2009 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games in Naga City.

Dumaguete City’s Zoe Menguito emerged as the most bemedalled swimmer for Region 7 as he fished out three golds and a silver at the end of the swimming competition. Menguito got her third gold from the 50m butterfly event.

Menguito also powered PRISAA-7 to a golden finish in the 4x100 medley relay.The other members of the team include Meribeth Ababon,Kruzette Solijon, and Gwencent Cañada.

The last day of swimming action saw PRISAA-7 hauling eight bronze medals from the 4x50m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley.

 Composing the 4x50m relay team are John Solon, Anthony Ong, Noel Cañeda and Vincent Cañada while the 4x100 medley had Solon, Cañeda, John Guno, and Rowan Fernandez.

Venice Aseniero salvaged a silver and Gwencent Cañada got bronze in the 200m breaststroke, according to assistant coach Franz Baguio.

In athletics, PRISAA-7 took away six more golds plus two silvers and four bronzes.

Lindley Navaja strikes another gold in the 200m run with a time of 21.97 seconds.

After ruling the 4x100m relay, the power team of Navaja, Dharl Pitogo, Anthony Santillan, and Jorge Pinanonang dominated the classical relay with a 42.7 seconds clocking.

Angelica Lado captured the gold in women’s shotput after clearing 9.49 meters. She earlier had a silver in discus throw.

The team of Lovejoy Intong, Sheena Gacayan, Lera de la Calzada and Joy Tabal got four bronzes from the 4x400 m relay, while Eden Dampios won silver in the 10K walk. Dharl Pitogo snatched a silver in the 110m hurdles with 14.9 seconds clocking.

In dancesport, PRISAA-7 got two golds and two silvers.

Kevin Minoza, who replaced Inoe Rendon, adjusted right away with Princess Inocando for a golden finish in the latin discipline, while a tandem from USPF bagged silver in the modern standard.

In taekwondo, the PRISAA-7 jins wound up with a gold from bantamweight Richard Caingles plus three silvers and three bronzes.

Four silvers also came from the chess team despite the absence of Johnny Wellen Carzano, who was diagnosed of dengue.

In volleyball, PRISAA-7, manned by the University of San Jose- Recoletos (USJ-R) remained undefeated in five games. The formidable USJ-R spikers of Cebu Sports Hall of Famer Coach Grace Antigua pummeled Region I ( Central Luzon ) in straight sets, 25-21, 25-14, 25-16, for its fifth straight win.

Prior to that, USJ-R trounced Caraga, regions XI ( Davao City ) and IX ( Zamboanga City ), and last year’s runner-up Angeles University Foundation (AUF) of Region III.

USJ-R has already made a mark in this annual sporting event as it took the men’s volleyball championship in 1999, 2001 and 2002 during the reign of Jerome Capada and Norvie “Making” Labuga. – With Marigold P. Lebumfacil (THE FREEMAN)