USC, UC sustain medal assault

CEBU, Philippines - After three days of intense competition, defending champion University of San Carlos stayed in command in the elementary division, while the University of Cebu remained on top the heap in the secondary battle of the 24th Cebu City Olympics, which will formally come to a close this afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.

In the elementary level, USC now stands with 31 golds, 27 silers and 12 bronzes in the official medal tally, way ahead of Unit III with 16 golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes. Unit VIII is at third place with a 13-13-17 gold-silver-bronze medal count.

In the secondary action, UC still perched atop the totem pole with 43 golds, 32 silvers and 33, but USC is closing in with 37 golds, 20 silvers and 36 bronzes. Abellana National School is a far third with 7-10-17 tally.

The combined tally, however, looks good for USC as it took the driver’s seat with 68 golds, 47 silvers and 48 bronzes as against UC's 49-33-36. Unit III is far third with 20-18-20.

UC scooped nine more golds in taekwondo through featherweight Sal Luigi Estrada, lightweight Dominic Sator, finweight Kissha Barro, flyweight Veronia Garces, bantamweight Man Yengele Coran, lightweight Andrae Janna Lim, welterweight Marie Espina, light middleweight Loralee Natividad and heavyweight Zozen Prajes.

UC also hauled golds in athletics through Ara Aranasa in javelin throw and the 100m run, John Marvin Rafols in long jump and triple jump, Jhuvan Jhen Baculot in triple jump, Jun Mitchel Dawa and Camylle Psalm Mosota in 400m hurdles and 200m run, and in the secondary boys and girls 4x100m relay.

USC, on the other hand, claimed additional three more gilts in tennis through Francis Lambayan in the secondary boys singles and Christopher Encarnacion and Jermaine Laurel in the boys doubles. Beverly Enriquez and Patricia Tapdasan won the girls doubles gold.

USC also bagged four golds in secondary taekwondo through finweight Charles David Labiste, flyweight Aldrein Abrio, bantamweight Benedict Suico, and welterweight bet Yutaka Toyoda.

Don Bosco Technology Center had its fair share of  the limelight as it swept the football golds. In the elementary final, the Bosconians bested USC,  1-0, while their secondary counterparts blasted Paref-Springdale in the penalty shootout, 3-0, behind the efforts of Angelo Ouano, Jon Rena and Vincent Lovitos.

In sepak takraw, Abellana National School defended its secondary boys title after beating Inayawan Night High School, 2-0, while Talamban ES won the gold in the elementary level with a 2-0 shutout of Inayawan.

The University of San Jose-Recoletos topped the scondary scrabble event with 19 points followed by UC with points  14 and Cebu Institute of Technology-University with 13 points.

University of the Visayas’ Daniela Reggie de la Pisa stole part of the show after sweeping all golds at stake in the elementary rhythmic gymnastics. She carted away five individual golds through the free hand, rope, hoop, clubs and all-around.

Dela Pisa also powered UV to a golden finish in the team event over Labangon ES as USC settled for bronze.

In the secondary level, UV also grabbed all the golds available, with Mariane Alegado taking four  individual golds as teammate Eunice Odag took the ball’s gold. The Visayanians also snared the team gold after edging out USC. (FREEMAN)