CEBU, Philippines – After placing second overall last year, Abellana National School has no other way but to go up, making the competition in the 15th Milo Little Olympics Visayas Finals a more exciting action starting today at the Cebu City Sports Center.
With Francis Ramirez heading ANS' MAPE department right now, ANS' target of the overall supremacy should not be taken for granted.
Even the region's event organizer Ricky Ballesteros is anticipating an "all-out war" between UC and ANS in the secondary level, while the elementary department could still be anybody's game.
Thanks to the points system, the final standings have become unpredictable as compared to the medal count.
Ramirez looks forward to dethroning UC saying that "we are more prepared this year than last year.We will really try our best to unseat UC."
Showing that they are really prepared, ANS is not only set to defend its sepak takraw, football and girls chess titles, they are also fielding in athletes in all other events.
Last year, UC posted 184 points as against ANS' 148.5. Had ANS won the girls volleyball, swimming and tennis, it would haven enough for them to snatch the title.
UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca did not make any comments on Ramirez's statement but just like in the previous years, his silence over the Webmasters' preparations could only mean one thing-they are ready to defend their interest.
All events except for gymnastics kicks off today mainly at the CCSC.Gymnastics is set to begin tomorrow yet and continue on the 14th.
Chess will be held at the Mabolo Elementary School while taekwondo will be at the nearby Mabolo Sports Complex as table tennis takes place at the UC Main and sipa and sepak takraw at the Labangon Elementary School .
Tennis will have two venues, with the elementary tennis at Baseline Sports and Recreational Center and the secondary level at Alta Vista Golf and Country Club. Volleyball will have its elementary division games at the CCSC while its secondary boys will be at City Center School and the distaff side at the ANS grounds.
Besides the titles and incentives from Nestle Philippines, top performers in the regional level will also get the chance to represent the Visayas in the Milo Little Olympics National Championships in Cagayan de Oro on October 15 to 17. (THE FREEMAN)