Champion athletes steal show as University of the Visayas Intrams gets underway

CEBU, Philippines – The stirring exploits of champion boxers Kevin Jake Cataraja and Christian Bacolod, multi-titled netter Marc Norman Enriquez, and topnotch karateka Gwen Jade Ponteros were further highlighted as they served as torch bearers during the lighting of urn for peace and unity that was among the sidelights of the University of the Visayas Intramurals 2015 that kicked off in style yesterday at the school's Teresita Square.

Cataraja and Bacolod, trained at Cebu's fabled ALA Boxing Gym, formed part of the Central Visayas squad that won the overall title in boxing event of this year's Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games last April in Iloilo City. Cataraja's masterful performance eventually earned him the tournament's 'Best Boxer' award.

A consistent gold medallist in various local and national competitions, Marc Norman Enriquez and his younger brother Norman Joseph made history as the first ever brothers to dominate their respective classes at the same time in the tennis singles event of the 2014 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.  (CESAFI) season.

Not to be outdone, Ponteros snare gold medal in the women’s individual kumite (below 50 kilograms. category) in karatedo event of last year's PRISAA National Games.

Aside from the four, the University of the Visayas Green Lancers led by coach Gary Cortes also came in full force to grace the elaborate opening ceremonies that started with a zumba session at 7 a.m.

Aside from the selection of Mr. and Ms. Intramurals, the other highlight of the affair was the 'cheerdance with cheers and yells competition' won by the College of Education.

Games will go full blast today, with the College of Business Administration all set to defend its overall crown. The sporting disciplines to be contested are basketball, darts, volleyball, sepak takraw, badminton, swimming, lawn tennis, karatedo, taekwondo, table tennis, scrabble, chess and dancesport. Several  'Pinoy Games' are also being featured in the four-day spectacle that will wind up on Saturday. — EBV (FREEMAN)