NCR, WV rule Palaro

BACOLOD CITY -- Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Central Visayas bagged the last two golds while NCR and Western Visayas split overall honors in the elementary and secondary divisions Saturday at the close of the Millennium Palarong Pambansa here.

ARMM nipped Eastern Visayas, 1-0, to clinch the elementary title and Central Visayas subdued Southern Mindanao, 3-0, to bag the secondary championship in the football competitions winding up the week-long meet, which drew 4,000 school athletes.

As expected, the NCR bets were the runaway overall winners in the elementary division.

NCR struck heavily in swimming and gymnastics where it collared 22 gold medals to romp off with elementary overall honors with grand tally of 28-13-17.

Southern Tagalog (21-13-38) settled for runner-up honors while host Western Visayas, with nearly half of its gold output coming from swimming sensation Kerschtine Velez, third(17-20-12).

But ballgame wins in sepak takraw and softball, where each player is awarded a gold, gave Western Visayas the overall title, winning over NCR in the secondary division by one gold.

WV had 48-35-23, and NCR second with 47-41-12. Central Visayas took third (26-24-18).

NCR and WV were each awarded P1 million worth of sports equipment.

A total of 20 records fell in the Millennial Palaro -- eight in track and field and 12 in swimming, which also produced most outstanding athletes in NCR's Ronald Guiriba and Kerschtine Velez of Western Visayas.

Guiriba, who won five individual and one team gold, also broke five individual marks.

Velez won seven swimming events and accounted for three individual and two relay records.

Monico Puentevella, commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, said Velez will be asked to join the national training pool in Manila to train under Japanese coach Ryuzo Ishikawa.