Central Visayas wrests overall lead in PCG event

CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas zoomed to the top of the leaderboard after Day 3 of the Philippine Collegiate Games (PCG) at the Quirino Enriquez Sports Complex in Zamboanga City.

Central Visayas now has accumulated a total of 42 golds, 33 silvers and 30 bronzes, followed by Calabarzon with 35 golds, 36 silvers and 32 bronzes. Western Visayas is at third with 28-34-35 g-s-b tally followed by Region XI with a 28-23-19 medal haul and Cordillera Autonomous Region with a 16-14-7 tally.

Multi-awarded tanker Loren Dale Echavez ended her campaign in swimming event in style, setting up a new meet record in the 40m freestyle event. She also ruled the 200m freestyle, clocking in two minutes and 15 seconds to breal her personal best of 27.67 seconds.

Contributing more golds for CV were Abegail Sakib in the 200m individual medley and in the 4x200 freestyle relay led by Echavez, Sakib, Claudine Candia and Rozelle Diaz.

“Hopefully we could beat the odds and with the athletes that were sending this year, we hope that we could have a better result this season. We will keep our fingers crossed that most of our team events will be successful in their respective matches,” said regional coordinator Bernard Ricablanca.

In karatedo, Central Visayas bagged the championship in team kumite courtesy of Ann de Riarte of the University of Cebu, Lynie Narboada of the University of San Jose-Recoletos and Mary Ann Vergara of the University of the Visayas.

Ditto with the CV jins in taekwondo. Among the gold medallists were Lord Jay Guia of the University of Cebu, Mary Ann Espina of Velez College, Richard Caingles of USJ-R and Karen Joy Fontanilla of Southwestern University.

In dancesport, Barbie Caryl Vallente and Nelson Jabonero Jr. topped the latin category.

On the other hand, the Siso siblings Sallydine and Bernardine met contrasting fates in the individual singles event. Sallydine took the women’s tiara after beating Leilah Ann Enriquez of Davao, 8-7 (7-1), while Bernardine landed just second in the men's event after falling prey to Macmac Alcoseba of Davao, 8-5.

The tandem of Jayvee Canoy and Kennex Abadia though took the men's doubles crown after nipping the Davao tandem, 8-2.

In volleyball, men's defending champion University of San Jose-Recoletos booked a semifinal ticket after coasting to its fifth straight win at the expense of Region 2, 25-15, 25-14, 25-17 and Region 10, 25-11, 25-16, 25-14. —