LINGAYEN - The Western Visayas men and women's volleyball squads trounced their separate rivals yesterday even as the Region VI cagebelles nipped Central Visayas, 42-37, at the start of the National Private Schools and Athletics Association Games at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

But the Western Visayas contingents in athletics faltered when it suffered a gold medal shutout on Day One. Western Visayas won two silvers and three bronzes going into the second day of competitions where 24 more golds are at stake.

Northern Mindanao dominated athletics, winning five of the eight golds disputed for the day. It also has two silvers.

Calabarzon is in second with three golds followed by Western Visayas and Central Visayas with identical 0-2-3 collections.

The WV male spikers, mentored by Stephen Patrona, breezed to a 25-16, 25-18, 25-9 victory over Cagayan Valley, while the Region VI volleybelles smashed Central Luzon, 25-16, 25-23, 25-4.

The Region VI lady spikers trailed 2-4 in the opening set before they got their game going with solid blocks and powerful spikes from Danilyn Lequigan, Michele Ortigosa and Nene Bautista.

Jonalyn Pula, a student at the University of St. La Salle, snatched one of two silvers won by Western Visayas in the women's division with a 12.65-second clocking in the 100-meter sprint behind Janie Sinoy of Northern Mindanao who ruled the event in 12.47 seconds.

Maylen Marquilina bagged the other silver for Region VI with a 1.33-m in women's high jump, behind Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Kayce Maala of Calabarzon (1.45-m).

Marigen Campos, who studies at the Filamer Christian College in Capiz, booked a bronze medal finish for WV in the women's 1,500-m with a time of five minutes and 6.13 seconds, while Daylen Candelario posted an 8.75-m heave for another bronze in women's shot put.

Geo Logronio was the lone male athlete with a medal for Region VI after he snared a bronze in the men's 100-m with a clocking of 10.9 seconds.

Marlon Oracion of Northern Mindanao and Mario Baquiran of Cagayan Valley won the gold and silver, respectively, posting times of 10.78 seconds and 10.87 seconds.

The WV lady spikers will battle defending champion Calabarzon at 3 p.m. today, while the Region VI women's basketball team will take on Cagayan Valley at 9 a.m. today.

The men's basketball team of WV, comprised of cagers from West Negros College and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, will open their campaign against Central Mindanao at 7:30 a.m. today.

The WV sepak takraw team started its title-defense with a come-from-behind 12-21, 24-25; 21-15, 21-18; 21-16, 21-15 triumph over Northern Mindanao, bannered by standouts from University of Mindanao.

Also victorious were the women's badminton squad of Region VI with a 3-0 decision over Central Luzon and the WV men's chess team, which beat Central Mindanao, 3.5-.5.

Meanwhile, WV men and women's athletics team coaches Noel Diel and Fritz Dorado said they remain upbeat despite the gold medal shutout yesterday.

Rechie Javillo, a graduating student at UNO-R, will defend his men's long jump title today.*CIT

back to top

Target Olympic gold, Arroyo urges athletes
WV spikers prevail but athletics teams falter
Magnolia, AMG Pawnshop triumph