CHED NATIONAL GAMES: CV's Navaja is fastest man

MANILA , Philippines  – Lindley Fran Navaja of Central Visayas was the fastest man in Palarong Pambansa and yesterday he duplicated that feat in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 2010 National Games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex here.

Despite being hobbled by a hamstring injury, the determined track star from the University of Cebu (UC) still topped the century dash with the time of 10.9 seconds.

“I’m glad that I still top my event. Even though I experienced physical problems, still I was able to make it,” said the 18-year old Navaja, who will shoot for a double gold as he sees action in the 200m run today.

Like Navaja, it was also a lucky day for UC’s Irin Baluran as she snatched a gold in the women’s triple jump after leaping to a distance of 11.82 meters.

“I’m happy because this is my first gold medal in a national inter-collegiate competition. I thought at first that I would not earn even a single medal but to my surprise, I won the gold,” said Baluran.

Ernesto Ybañez ended up with a silver in the men’s triple jump as well as CV’s 4x100m relay team powered by Navaja, Dharl Pitogo, Jorge Pinanonang and Anthony Santillan. Central Visayas also got seven more bronze medals in athletics courtesy of Lorna Olarita of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Boligario Ginalito in discus throw, Mary Joy Tabal of Southwestern University in 400m run, and the women’s 4x100 relay squad of Tabal, Olarita, Almira Sadaya and Love Joy Intong.

In karatedo, the Central Visayas bets were unstoppable in hauling golds as they ended the event with three golds for the team kumite led by April Campo (USJ-R), Mary Ann Vergara (UV) and Ann Marie de la Riarte of UC. De la Riarte bagged four golds overall, making him the most bemedalled CV athlete in the week-long sports conclave.

Sally Dine Siso of the University of San Carlos and Kennex Abadia delivered two silvers in lawn tennis, while Paula Abigail Vega of UC Claudine Candia of USC turned over bronze medals in swimming.

In basketball, the University of San Carlos-manned women’s team earned a semifinal ticket after pummeling Region XII, 81-47. However, they bowed to the National Capital Region, 68-49, to end the classification round with a 3-1 slate.

In beach volley, Mary Luilyn Pacinio and Crystal Buelvan of Southwestern University kept their unbeaten record intact after trouncing ARMM, 21-9, in the same way with their men counterparts in Jade Becaldo of UV and Edward Ybañez of the USPF, who shackled Region XI, 21-17.

In volleyball played at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym, the Southwestern University-bannered CV belles also barged into the semis after topping their bracket with a nerve-tingling 17-25, 25-22, 27-25, 28-26 victory over the National Capital Region (NCR).