Fresh victories in basketball and taekwondo yesterday ensured that NOPSSCEA's elementary athletes remain in their lofty position as they head towards the final day of the Palarong Panlalawigan in Bacolod City .

Area IV, drawing wins from lawn tennis, table tennis and gymnastics, took the driver's seat in the race for overall honors in the high school division, which is expected to go down the wire once again.

Bacolod City , which struck heavily in athletics and girls' taekwondo yesterday, and early leader NOPSSCEA are breathing down Area IV's neck with seven events, including basketball and volleyball yet to be concluded.

Area IV has 171 points, while Bacolod and NOPSSCEA, the fancied team in ballgames like volleyball and basketball, have 166 and 150 points, respectively.

The elementary division is also shaping up for a down-the-wire finish between NOPSSCEA, which is clinging to a 2-point advantage with 150 points, and defending champion Bacolod (148). Area IV has an outside chance with 95 points.

Area VI bagged the athletics titles but fared poorly in other events to stay in fourth overall with 89.5 points.

NOPSSCEA, composed of standouts from the University of St. La Salle, St. John's Institute and Bacolod Tay Tung High School, crushed Bacolod, 83-56, yesterday for the basketball title at the USLS-IS covered court.

The victory came in the wake of the taekwondo jins' sweep worth 30 points at the Panaad Stadium. Delivering the victories were Stephany Lamayo (girls' 120-128 cm.), Irene Therese Bermejo (girls' 128-136 cm.), Dave Matthew Daclan (boys' 120-128 cm.) and JB Fernand Locsin (136-144 cm.).

The NOPSSCEA silvers came courtesy of Abigail Therese Tio (girls' 160-168 cm.) and Jason Lenard Locsin (boys' 128-136 cm.).

Bacolod wrested second place in the girls' division, thanks to golden performances from Roni Jean Raymundo (136-144 cm.) and Kristel Shane Despojo (160-168 cm.).

Area VI's Frecilyn Tomas (152-160 cm.) and Area IV's Cherlyn Mae Mondia (144-152 cm.) captured the two other gold medals.

Also ruling their respective categories in the boys' division were Area VI bets Karl Rubin (128-136 cm.) and Kheno Rubin (144-152 cm.) and Area II's Antonio Moradas (160-168 cm.) and Area I's John Paul Dolocanog (152-160 cm.).

Bacolod stayed in step with NOPSSCEA as its baseball team overcame Area V twice to win the title. The Bacolod batters took the first game, 4-2, before scoring a 16-1 demolition in the winner-take-all showdown.

Area IV made its presence felt in secondary gymnastics, while the tennis team, bannered by internationalist Martina Guba, also swept the competition for 30 points.

Spearheading the win in the men's artistic events were Arlan Estares (floor) and Arlan Estares (vault and individual all-around).

But Area IV was relegated to fourth place honors in secondary basketball, after bowing to newcomer ANOPSSAI, 99-109, yesterday at the Panaad covered court.

ANOPSSAI advanced to a confrontation with Area III at 8 a.m. today for the second championship slot.

NOPSSCEA, represented by players from Silay Institute, clinched the first finals berth with a 60-54 triumph over Area III yesterday. The final is scheduled at 10 a.m. today.

Area III reclaimed the high school baseball crown, following a 10-2 whipping of Area V, a victory that hardly improved its ranking. Area III has 80.1 points for fourth place.

Meanwhile, Bacolod and NOPSSCEA were declared co-champions in secondary girls' taekwondo after both teams tallied 2-gold, 2-bronze outputs.

Finweight Kirstine Chua and lightweight Trishia Lim topped their divisions for NOPSSCEA, while Beverly Flaga and Joesa Mae Duran won the flyweight and bantamweight divisions, respectively for Bacolod .

NOPSSCEA edged Area II in the boys' division, after winning one gold, three silvers and a bronze.

Roy Vincent Dionela came through with the lone victory in the lightweight division, while bantam Dedsol Pastor, featherweight Raymund Bermejo and welterweight Arnold Hilado won silvers to give NOPSSCEA the edge.

The other taekwondo gold medallists were Area II bets Eduard Buenavista (boys' finweight) and Victoriano Victorama (boys' welter), Area VI athletes Mel Kevin Ibañez (fly) and Ferdinand Tomas (bantam) and Area IV's Robert Tambanillo (featherweight).

The gold medallists in the girls' division were Area IV's Kristel Faith Maldeguia (feather) and Area III's Ma. Melly Joy Española (welterweight).*CPT

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