DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Niños kicked off their campaign with a golden harvest in the medal-rich athletics and swimming events of the 2012 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet yesterday here.
The Niños, who are gunning for their 20th straight title, showed dominance in the track and field as well as in swimming where they gathered golds to shore up their quest for the overall supremacy of the annual event that serves as the region's qualiying tournament for next year's Palarong Pambansa to be hosted also by this bustling capital city of Negros Oriental.
Bera Rose Saragena of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) and Shantel Tanucan of the University of Cebu (UC) got the first two golds for the Niños in the secondary girls shot put and long jump events of athletics competition at the Lamberto C. Macias Sports and Cultural Complex.
The other gold medallists for Cebu City in athletics were UC’s Jan Moses Estrada in boys shot put and Christian Cabillon of Labangon Elementary School in boys 100m hurdles.
Over at the Teves Aqua Center, the Niños under coach Rolando Alvarez also made a splashing performance to keep their title defense on the right track.
UC's 13-year-old swim star Michael Ichiro Kong led Cebu City's assault at the pool with two gold medals in the 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle.
Lyh Ann Navarro also hauled gold in the girls 100m freestyle, Anita Monterola in the 100m breast stroke, Cynth June Guden in the 100m breast stroke, Justine Reign Garrido in the 50m breast stroke and Karen Mae Indaya in the 400m freestyle.
The Cebu City booters also got off to flying starts. The Niños trampled Lapu-Lapu City, 9-0, in the secondary division and hammered Cebu Province in the elementary level.
The Southwestern University (SWU)-manned Cebu City volleybelles also made an impression as they pulled off back-to-back victories over Toledo City and Negros Oriental, 2-0.
In women's basketball, Cebu City trounced Talisay City, 52-31, while John Godfrey Seno and Sheena Camporedondo hurdled their respective opening assignments in secondary lawn tennis event. (FREEMAN)