Cebu city olympics South teams start strong

CEBU, Philippines - The Southern squads stole the show during Day One of the 22nd Cebu City Olympics 2012 mainly at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.

South-8 sets the early pace in the secondary division with 32.5 points, thanks to Gothong’s archers and taekwondo jins.

Gothong’s Judith Llanto and Saralee Garcis swept the golds in the 30-meter distance, in the same way with Rosemarie Pacundo and Michael Solier in the 40m distance of archery competition.

In taekwondo, Gothong’s bets got two silvers and seven bronzes translated into 2.5 points.

North-1 is at temporary second place with 25 points, while University of Cebu (UC), which is competing as one team being a member of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc (CESAFI), is at third spot with 19 points.

UC got all its points from taekwondo where it hauled five golds, two silvers and a bronze. The golds were delivered by Eric and Veronica Garces, Maria Carmela Coran, Aila Marie Lepon and Marie Hanz Espina.

In the elementary level, South-6 is leading the pack with 27 points, just 2.5 points ahead of South-4. South-5 occupied the third spot with 18 points.

The Guadalupe-manned South-6 reigned supreme in taekwondo with four golds and silver behind the efforts of Charles Lawrence, Charles David Labiste, Janjay Brilliantes and Cha Yna Labiste.

South-4 got the 25 points from baseball after pulling away a nerve-wracking 11-10 win over Punta Princesa in the championship.

On the other hand, Unit-5 and 8 are already assured of a bronze medal each in boxing courtesy of Pit-os’ pinweight contender Ramil Casaners and Mabolo's John Lloyd Transporte. Casaners silenced Abellana National School’s Jold Ian Dopalco, while Transporte outsmarted his teammate Hermie Gemida, 2-1.

In athletics, the UC bets sparkled with five golds in the secondary division through the efforts of Shantel Tanucan in high jump, Rozel Ardiente in the 3,000m steeple chase, Doren Romeral in the 100m hurdles, and Camylle Psalm Mosota in the 400m hurdles.

In the elementary battle, the University of San Carlos collected the most number of golds with three courtesy of Angeli Ann Iway in high jump and Vince Menard Galan and Mary Joy Loberanis in the 1,500m run.

UC also sizzled in swimming with four golds in the elementary and nine gilts in the secondary level.

Karen Indaya fished out all of UC's golds in the elementary action, while the likes of Michael Ichiro Kong, Danielle Mae Ballesteros, Beth Mary Arellano and Trina Caneda delivered the goods in the secondary contest.

Foreign players to invade Cebu for international rugby tourney

The Cebu Men’s and Lady Dragons brace for a tough challenge against a strong field of opposition in the Pot Bellied Pigs Cebu 10's International Rugby Festival slated on November 17 at the Cebu International School (CIS) grounds.

  The hosts are fielding in two teams in the men's division, the Cebu Dragons and the Low Flying Dragons. They will go up against eight other squads from Malaysia, China and Manila led by defending champion Nomads along with the Alabang Eagles, Manila Hapons, MAAP, and the Vipers.

 “With our new coach, Dean Baker, we are more confident of winning. We now know better on team structure, foundation of the sport and better training. We have not participated in the last event in Manila since we are focusing on this one,” said Cebu Dragons skipper Jerry Branzuela in a press conference yesterday at Sandtrap.

Event director Rose Lanticse said the competing squads will be grouped into two pools that will play in a single round robin format. The top two will advance into the crossover semis, with the winners slugging it out for the championship.

The Lady Dragons, on the other hand, are as excited as their men's counterparts, even as they also want to prove that their victory in the latest Globe 7’s League in Manila was no fluke.

They also aim to make history as the first ever women’s champion in the flagship event of the Cebu Dragons Rugby Football Club.

The Aiumi Ono-led Lady Dragons will have their hands full against the Seoul Sister of South Korea and Manila’s Maverick Xena.

To accommodate younger players, the organizers are including a touch rugby competition featuring the elementary and secondary categories. A total of nine teams have already confirmed their entry.

The one-day joust presented by CCRFC in partnership with the Pot Bellied Pigs RFC of Hong Kong and the Vismin Rugby Football Union (VRFU) is open to the public for free. The organizers will provide a free bus ride for those who would like to watch the event. Assembly area is at St. Mark’s along Redemptorist Church starting at 8 am on game day. ---(FREEMAN)