Another NOPSSCEA swimming campaign in the Palarong Panlalawigan climaxed in a blaze of glory at the Panaad Olympic Pool in Bacolod City yesterday.

The elevation from the elementary to the high school division barely mattered for Kiefer Piccio, who came in fully-armed and prepared to sweep his five events and fuel two more relay victories.

Marking her last provincial Palaro, high school senior Krestia Angela Lacson made sure it would be a memorable one, duplicating Piccio's feat of seven gold medals, including two relay wins.

After years of competing in the shadows of the bigger guns, diminutive Joshua Balinas finally grabbed the limelight by topping five individual events in the elementary division, before winning another gold in a relay race.

Danna Mae Testa created the biggest waves in the elementary girls' category with six golds, four in the individual events.

Piccio, Lacson, Balinas and Testa spearheaded another NOPSSCEA romp that injected life to the private school association's bid for the overall championship.

The secondary boys' team, which also drew three individual golds from Miguel Petero, posted a whopping 149 points, 48 ahead of closest pursuer Bacolod City , while Area IV was third with 70 points.

Even more impressive was the NOPSSCEA girls' team, which collected a two-day total of 168 points. In second was Area IV with 90 points, followed by Bacolod City with 66.

Under the points system, individual gold medalists are awarded seven points, while the relay wins are equivalent to 14 markers. Each team title is equivalent to 30 poins

In the elementary boys' division, NOPSSCEA walked home with the crown after chalking up 156 points, ahead of Bacolod 's 103.

Not to be outdone, the girls' team overwhelmed the opposition with 166 points. Claiming second place was Bacolod City with 98 points.

Piccio, a freshman at Bacolod Christian Center of Negros , ruled the 100m back (1 minute, 12.43 seconds), 200m back (2:36.63), 200m fly (2:29.09), 100m fly (1:07.62) and 200m IM (2:32.05).

He was also part of the 4x100m medley team that won the gold in 4:58.44 and the 4x50m free squad that prevailed in 1:56.47.

Also making big waves was La Consolacion College standout Miguel Petero, who won the 400m free (4:48.96), 100m free (1:02.33) and 200m free (2:15.34).

Only Bagoeño Melvin Padronia survived the onslaught in the individual events, topping the 200m breast (2:48.46) and 100m breast (1:18.15). Bacolod snatched the 4x50m medley gold with a 2:13.14 clocking.

Lacson, a senior at St. Scholastica's Academy, took top honors in the 400m free (5:09.14), 200m back (2:44.69), 100m free (1:06.79), 200m IM (2:44.32) and 200m free (2:25.04).

NOPSSCEA swept the four relay events in the category, while Hillary Tan topped the 100m back (1:18.36), Andrea Caguingin ruled the 200m fly (3:06.19) and Cleistah Sol Sabusap reigned supreme in the 100m fly (1:20.28).

Rowena Sumaria of Bacolod City prevented an all-NOPSSCEA show, cornering the 200m breast title in 3:05.92 and the 100m breast gold in 1:27.56.

Balinas, a sixth grader at the University of St. La Salle , reigned in the 200m free (2:35.34), 100m back (1:24.74), 100m fly (1:21.00), 200m IM, (2:57.99) and 100m free (1:11.20).

John Michael Cua contributed two golds with victories in the 100m breast 1:31.91 and 50 breast (41.20). Unheralded John Clark dela Torre was the surprise winner in the 50m free, clocking 33.62 seconds.

Joshua Junsay of Area III salvaged the 50m back gold in 42.01, while Bacolod 's Ryan Sta. Maria ruled the 50m fly in 36.19.

Except for the 4x50m medley won by Bacolod , NOPSSCEA seized maximum points in the 4x100m medley, 4x50m free and 4x100m free.

Testa's victories came in the 200m free (2:32.79), 100m fly (1:22.38), 50m fly (36.02), 100m free (1:10.30), while teammate Mary Angela Pandan delivered golds in the 50m back (38.34) 100m back, (1:23.17), 200 IM (2:53.53).

Adding strength to the NOPSSCEA campaign was Tanya Rosales, who scooped up the 100m breast crown in 1:32.19 and the 50m breast title in 41. 33.

NOPSSCEA also won all four relay events, while Bacolod 's Rose Mary Occeno bagged the 50m free gold in 32.47.*CPT

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