UC reaffirms dominance USC retains elementary title in 17th Milo Little Olympics

CEBU, Philippines - Although the hard way this time, the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters still danced under the bright shade of success after they retained the overall championship in the secondary division of the 17th Milo Little Olympics Visayas eliminations, which formally dropped off its curtains yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Upstaged in athletics for the first time in recent memory and strongly challenged by the University of San Carlos (USC) for the overall supremacy until the very end, the spirited UC jocks had the last laugh after coming up with the highest output of 176.25 points at the conclusion of the five-day battle.

Its triumph was definitely not served on a silver platter as UC had never experienced facing so much uncertainty in defending their throne.

Even though they did not field in bets in gymnastics, sepak takraw and football, the UC Webmasters earned a living in their favorite athletics event though they shared the spotlight with Iloilo National High School. UC also performed remarkably in swimming aside from lording it over in boys badminton and table tennis and girls taekwondo.

At the pool, the wards of coach Rolando Alvarez contributed a total of 50 points for UC after they topped the girls division and placed second to USC in the boys side.

Michael Ichiro Kong emerged as the most bemedalled among UC tankers with eight golds and a silver in individual events plus a gilt in relay.

More to it, Kong, the 'Golden Boy' of this year’s MLO regional qualifying, established four meet records in the 200m individual medley with the time of 2:28.66, 200m backstroke (2:29.27), 200m freestyle (2:18.60) and 200m butterfly (2:28.76).

“Sayang kaayo ang isa ka event nako kay silver ra. I admit that I was going easy in the 100m freestyle because I was feeling so tired already and I needed to reserve some energy for the relay yet,” Kong told The FREEMAN.

The other points by UC came from athletics with 50 points, badminton with 16.25, chess with 20, table tennis with 25, and taekwondo with 15.

USC, on the other hand, jumped a notch higher from its last year's standing after it ended at second place this time with 161.5 points, thanks to its chess teams for sweeping the golds at stake in the secondary level as well as to its male swimmers, taekwondo jins and tennis players.

The University of the Visayas landed at third with 77.5 points following a sterling performances in scrabble and gymnastics, while Abellana National School placed fourth with 75.5 points followed by Iloilo National High School with 58.25 points.

The sixth to 10th placers were Southwestern University (47), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (45), Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (42.5), Cabancalan National High School (38.5), and Silliman University (30).

In the elementary level, USC kept its elementary division crown with 135.25 points. UV was a far second with 61.25 points followed by SHS-AdC with 50.7 points.

Rounding up the top 10 cast in the elementary department were Catmon Elementary School (35), Cebu City Central School(33.25), Cebu Institute Technology University(32.5), University of San Jose-Recoletos (30.5) and Don Bosco Technology Center and Talamban Elementary School(30.25), Banilad Elementary School, Labangon Elementary School and University of Bohol with 30 points apiece.

The two-weekened battle was indeed a very unpredictable one as seen in the different events featured in this Nestle Philippines-bankrolled developmental sports tournament.

“This is the toughest edition and I feel this is the strongest team that we’ll ever form for the National Finals.The outcome of the event gave me confidence that we can defend our national title,” said Team Visayas chief coordinator Ricky Ballesteros.

After accomplishing a historic grandslam feat, the Bisdaks now train their sights to completing the full cycle of the Milo Little Olympics when they invade the National Capital Region (NCR) for the fourth edition of the MLO National Championships set to kick off on October 19 in Marikina City. (FREEMAN)