Cebu City Olympics, USC tankers make waves at the pool

CEBU, Philippines - The decision of the University of San Carlos (USC) to push through with its participation in the 23rd Cebu City Olympics proved rewarding as it hauled 21 golds plus a dozen silvers and seven bronzes for a splashing start in swimming event of the multi-sport conclave yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The Carolinians, who are competing as one as a school and not under any unit, initially thought of backing out from the competition because it coincides with the school's second grading examinations, but the organizing DepEd-Cebu City division was able to convince them to join the battle as they are one of sporting powers aside from being the defending champion in the elementary level.

And USC showed they made the right decision, hauling in 13 golds, six silvers and four bronzes in elementary swimming including two gilts in relay events.

Among those who propeled USC to a sizzling start in the boys category were Lorenzo Deiparine, Gil Anton Talisaysay, Ron Matthew Baquiano and Alfeo Vallespin, while the likes of Maria Aaliyah Biagan, Jannah Louisse Canga, Tara Kyle Ebon, Kristina and Angelika Torres sparkled in the distaff side.

Colegio del Sto. Niño, which is under Unit 4, is a distant second with two silvers and a bronze, while the University Cebu and Unit 6's Maria Montessori International School are at joint third with a silver each.

In the secondary division, USC and UC tallied the same number of golds with eight, but USC took the driver's seat for  collecting more silvers with six silvers plus three bronzes. UC only had four silvers and six bronzes.

Alfeo Vallespin and the little-known Kyle Nemil paced USC with two individual golds. They got an additional gold from the 4x400m medley relay along with Maynard Sasedor, Junvic Tiro and Aaron Embuscado.

UC's Karen Mae Indaya stole part of the show after sweeping five golds through the 400m freestyle with a 5:11.98 clocking, the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:49.30 and the 800m freestyle in 10:34.56. She picked up the remaining two golds in relay event.

Lyh Ann Navarro, Indaya's rival from Cebu Eastern College, grabbed only one gold in the 100m freestyle with the time of 1:10.11.

Michael Ichiro, on the other hand, only saw action in one event yet he came with a gold in the individual medley with a time of  2:28.72.

In football, however, USC had a lukewarm start, losing to Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School, 4-2. In other games of elementary football, San Jose Elementary School-Talamban stunned Centre for International Education, 6-0, while Sacred Heart School-Hijas de Jesus edged Paref-Springdale, 3-2.

In the secondary division, Abellana National School (ANS) of coach Francis Ramirez announced its return to the City Olympics in style , hacking out an 8-0 rout of USJ-R. Paref-Springdale was more brutal in its 18-0 annihilation of CIE, while defending champion Don Bosco Technology Center opened its title retention bid in the elementary and secondary division with wins over CIE and ANS, respectively.

Though the games have already started, the formal opening of the annual athletic joust that will determine the City's representatives to the CVIRAA Meet is yet to take place this afternoon. (FREEMAN)