ROXAS CITY --- A string of golden performances made by members of the secondary boys' squad set the tone for Negros Occidental's auspicious start in the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet here yesterday.

While there was a surprising setback by the high school booters (see related story), it failed to take the luster off the big Day One victories in secondary softball, elementary girls' volleyball, secondary girls' volleyball and basketball.

Before those triumphs, however, were the 16-gold haul at the pool and the three golds won by standouts of the secondary boys' athletics team, which surged ahead with 31 points, 20.5 points clear of rival Iloilo.

Adjusting well to the poor conditions of the oval, Bacolod City National High School senior Francis Tejales galloped his way to victory in the 110-m hurdles in 18.33 seconds to emerge as the first gold medalist in this year's regional Palaro.

Moments later, Binalbagan Catholic College athletes Rey Dennis Bacay and Myco Maeda took the spotlight as they topped the discus throw and high jump events.

Bacay threw the plate to a distance of 35.02-meters, while Maeda cleared 1.82-meters.

Despite a gold medal shutout, the Negros high school girls' athletics team also set the early pace with 21 points, followed by Iloilo with 17.

Silver finishes by Josie Entrina in discus throw and Dyna Sebullan in high jump allowed Negros to make headway, even as the elementary athletics competitions were to start late yesterday.

BASKETBALL

In basketball, Negros geared up for its showdown with defending champion Iloilo by repulsing host Capiz, 84-68 for its first win. Led by center John Michael Noble of West Negros College and Frederick Rabacal of USLS-IS, the Negrenses ripped the game apart in the third quarter by executing its fast break game to near-perfection.

Noble had 23 points with Nestor Hintillano chipping in 16. Paul Bacillote made 11 points, while Ian Gabriel Villanueva and Michael Cepriano added 8 apiece.

"We're still adjusting and working on our chemistry," said Negros coach Dennis "Jack" Tumayan, whose wards play Iloilo at 8 a.m. today.

SOFTBALL

Bannered by a bunch of World Series veterans from Domingo Lacson National High School, the Kulafu Posadas-mentored Negros squad overpowered Antique, 15-0, in just two innings to open its title-defense in softball.

The win comes a day after the ETCS girls' wrested the elementary crown via forfeiture.

VOLLEYBALL

Meanwhile, the Negrense volleybelles, mentored by Ma. Teresita Aboy, broke the hearts of the huge crowd at the Villareal Stadium with a scary 25-23, 27-25 victory over Capiz for its first win.

Angeline Pudadera of Silay City came through with two crucial kills for Negros' final two points that preserved the win.

Earlier, the elementary girls' squad, powered by St. John's Institute spikers, ran roughshod on a hapless Guimaras squad and came away with a convincing 25-16, 25-15 win.

SEPAK TAKRAW

Also riding high on the Negros momentum was the secondary boys' sepak takraw team, which overwhelmed Guimaras, 2-1.

In elementary play, Negros also opened its campaign on a bright note, shutting out Antique, 2-0.

LAWN TENNIS

In lawn tennis, international champion Martina Guba defeated her rival from Antique, 8-2, to set her gold medal campaign in the secondary girls' division.

The elementary girls' team also posted an 8-5 win over Capiz.

BADMINTON

Two losses in the secondary boys and girls' singles tournaments spoiled an otherwise promising campaign in badminton for Negros at the the Playgium courts here.

Capiz's finest shuttler Lynette Esico defeated Negros bet Ma. Joanna Karmela Dabao in the first round of girls singles, while Kevin Yu also bowed out after losing to Aklan's Ritchell Nillosa.

But Kevin Cioco and Hillary Kritz Biaje kept the gold hopes alive in singles with victories against their Guimaras and Antique rivals, respectively.

Coached by former Palaro standout Desirie Joy Yanson, Jenin Luna and Maristchelle Llema of Cadiz City won over Iloilo, duplicating the feat of the John Paul Deanon-George Mahinay Jr. pair over another Iloilo duo in the boys' division.

Multi-titled Nikki Servando was impressive in her regional meet debut, teaming up with Merry Joy Fernandez to win their first assignment against Iloilo in the elementary girls' division.

Precious Ballenas and Dhessa Mae Arino also hurdled their first-round opponents in singles play. *CPT

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