Bisdaks start hot Team Visayas sizzles in athletics, swimming and gymnastics

Marikina City, Philippines – Team Visayas remains on track on its quest for redemption as it got off to a flying start in the 6th Milo Little Olympics National Finals mainly at the Marikina Sports Center yesterday.

It was an impressive performance for the Bisdaks even if National Capital Region currently holds the lead after dominating sepak takraw.

Team Visayas’ athletics squad provided spark in its golden assault on the first day of action, as they delivered 11 gold medals together with 11 silvers and 11 bronzes. The Bisdaks also broke sixteen national meet records.

Leading the charge for the Bisdaks is Ninolito Justiniane who had double-golds in the secondary boys 100m dash in eleven seconds and a record-breaking feat in the 200m run with 22.4 seconds.

Kyle Kenjie Dahili also emerged as the fastest in the elementary boys 100m dash with 13.2 seconds as Elrica Anne Guro snared a gold medal in the secondary girls 100m dash with 12.7 seconds.

Team Visayas also had three other record breakers in the medal-rich athletics through Ivan, Santos, Elyzza Salinas and Russell Christy Faunillan.

Santos owned the secondary boys 5,000m run record with 16:40.7, while Salinas in had a 15.8 clocking in the secondary girls 100m hurdle as Faunillan lorded it over at the shot put event with 7.97 to beat NCR’s Joanna Arsenio of 7.93.

The rest of the gold medalists in athletics for the Bisdaks were Shanelle Demilys Siasoyco (9.34m) in secondary girls shot put, Vince Mich Montecillo (20.28) in the discus throw event, Kar Benedict Urbano (5:13.9) in the elementary boys 1,500m run as Mary Joy Loberanis won the  elementary girls 1,500m with 5:19.1.

In the pool, Team Visayas had a 6-2-8 gold-silver-bronze medal performance as Psalm Daniel Aquino waxed hot with three golds in the elementary boys 50m butterfly with 31.42, 50m freestyle (28.97) and 200m individual medley. He also won the gold medal in the 400m medley together with Charles, Lipura, Jo Lander Molina and Reagan Garbanzoz with a time of 5:15.

In gymnastics, cancer survivor Daniela Dela Pisa handed two golds so far through the rope and club apparatus of the elementary girls rhythmic sportive gymnastics.

Artistic bet Eunie Ginell Sorono also made her presence felt after winning the gold in the elementary WAG’s horse vault with 11.60 points to upset Yna Ortiz of NCR with 11.25. Soronio also grabbed silver in the individual all-around and floor exercises.

Meanwhile, NCR ruled the Sepak Takraw, the only event that finished its competitions yesterday at the Marikina Conception Elementary School. Both its elementary and secondary teams won all of its matches to combine for a total of 30 points.

Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao all finished with 14 points apiece.

In the basketball event, University of San Carlos elementary boys beat Luzon 80-27, while Team Visayas’ secondary boys squad thrashed Mindanao, 81-72.

Both elementary and secondary boys squad of Team Visayas in football also won their respective matches as Don Bosco Technology Center annihilated Luzon, 8-1, before routing Mindanao, 5-0 in the elementary division.

While, Paref Springdale scored two-straight wins against Mindanao, 3-1, and Luzon, 8-0, in the secondary division. (FREEMAN)