Ballesteros says Bisdaks out to complete full cycle of National Milo Little Olympics

CEBU, Philippines - Even if the regional qualifying has not yet started, Team Visayas already has a bigger goal in mind - to complete the 'full cycle' of the National Milo Little Olympics.

Team Visayas, powered mostly by Cebuano athletes, earned the right to store in its treasure vault the beautifully crafted "Perpetual Trophy" for sweeping the first three editions of the National MLO held in the three main island groups of the archipelago.

When they hosted the inaugural event three years ago, the Bisdaks clinched the overall crown in dominating fashion. They successully defended their throne in Cagayan de Oro City in 2010 and then completed a historic grandslam feat when the Nestle Philippines-presented developmental sports competition was staged in Lingayen, Pangasinan last year.

And the Bisdaks' athletic fervor and winning desire don't end from there. Fact is, they are now training their sights on an unprecedented four straight championship in the country's most prestigious grassroots sporting meet, this time at the territory of the powerhouse National Capital Region (NCR).

"We want to complete the full cycle of the National Milo Little Olympics. We are going to prove that even in the NCR, we can still win the overall championship," said Team Visayas delegation head Ricky Ballesteros, an indefatigable event organizer who is also an award-winning sportsman.

NCT will play host to the 4th National MLO slated on October 19-21 at the Marikina Sports Park in Marikina City.

"I'm confident we can achieve that goal especially now that we have already identified our strengths and weaknesses," said Ballesteros. "We are lagging behind in swimming and track and field, but we are hoping to offset that by inviting gold medallists from Bacolod and Iloilo."

The Bisdaks begin their extensive preparations toward accomplishing that mission when the Visayas eliminations of the 25th Milo Little Olympics formally kicks off with another grandiose and spectacular ceremony tomorrow afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.

"For the past 25 years, Milo has always been a partner in grassroots sports development of the Philippines," said Milo Sports Executive Robbie de Vera. "Our support will always remain in search for the next generation of Filipino sports heroes."

Aside from the selection of the Miss Milo Little Olympics, the other sidelights of the opening salvo is the search for the biggest and most disciplined delegation, the contingent with the loudest cheers and best in saludo and the cheerdance contest.

Close to 7,000 athletes from 225 elementary and secondary schools combined will see action in the two-weekend joust that will culminate on September 2.

They will compete in the medal-rich athletics and swimming events as well as in badminton, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, scrabble, sepak takraw, sipa, table tennis, taekwondo, and volleyball.

Perennial champion University of Cebu (UC) leads the pack of contenders in the secondary division, while the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department (USC-BED) is out to defend its title in the elementary category.

Medals will be awarded to the top performers, but the overall rankings will be determined by 'points' system. - THE FREEMAN