Golden mine at the pool UC, Talisay tankers start hot in Milo Little Olympics

CEBU, Philippines - The spirited tankers of Talisay City led by Psalm Deniel Aquino and Raven Faith Alcoseba hogged the spotlight during Day 1 of the 19th Milo Little Olympics Visayas Finals, even as the University of Cebu also made a splashing performance in swimming event anchored on Michael Ichiro Kong yesterday at Cebu City Sports Center.

Aquino of Asian College of Technology-Talisay collected six golds, five of which in record-establishing fashion via the 50m backstroke (33.91sec), 100m butterfly (1:11.02), 200m freestyle (2:25.46), 200m individual medley (2:37.58), and 400m freestyle (5:09.20). His sixth gold came in the 50m breastroke (38.69sec).

In the girls division, Alcoseba of First Chinese Royal Academy also set new marks with her golden showing in the 100m butterfly (1:15.46), 200m freestyle (2:33.32) and 400m freestyle (5:04.73). She grabbed three more gilts in the 50m breastroke (40.07), 200m individual medley (2:41.10) and 50m backstroke (34.72).

“I commend my athletes for their winning attitude and discipline. Through this, they performed impressively,” said Talisay swim coach Roland Abellana Remolino.

In the secondary battle, Kong of UC stole the limelight with four golds in 100m butterfly (1:03.98), 200m individual medley (2:24.24), 400m freestyle (4:42.96)and 200m backstroke (2:26.81).

Karen Mae Indaya added two golds for UC’s cause in the 200m individual medley (2:47.13) and 200m backstroke (2:48.12).

The University San Carlos bets had their share of podium finish in secondary swimming after topping the 4 x 100m relay spiked with dominant performances by Ron Lozada, Razel Cabajar and Tiro Junvic in the 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 200m breastroke, respectively.

In the medal-rich athletics event, UC and USC both had a slow start with only one gold each. UC's Jan Moses Estrada ruled the secondary shot put event with a distance of 11.31m, while Ivan Miguel Santos handed gold to USC-BED in the 5,000m run with a time of 17:03.57.

Cebu Institute of Technology-University swept the golds in elementary shot put behind the efforts of Enrique Aliviado (6.35m) and Russel Christy Faunillan (6.61m).

Harold Lerio and Jenylyn Gutierrez of Basak Community School topped the elementary 110m hurdles with a time of 22.94 and 22.26sec, respectively.

In long jump, Rodrel Cabase of Lahug Elementary School lorded it over in the boys side after leaping to a a distance of 3.38m, while Mayol Dalle of Sacred Heart School- Ateneo de Cebu reigned supreme in the distaff side in 3.39m. Jones Marcuelo from Abellana National School won the gold in secondary boys in 4.11m as Elvy Villagoniza of Iloilo National High School shone brightly in the girls class at 4.98m.

In football, the semifinal cast in the elementary division has been completed. Defending champion Don Bosco Technology Center will face USC-BED, while SHS-AdC will take on Lapu-Lapu Elementary School for the other final spot.

In the secondary basketball, USC defeated University of the Visayas-Mandaue, 79-51, ANS slammed CIT-U, 60-43, SHS-AdC demolished Three H Childhood Academy, 104-79, while SHS-Hijas annihilated Mary Help of Christian School, 62-37. (FREEMAN)