It was a story of final-day surges as athletes from Bacolod City's public schools and the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural and Educational Association split top honors yesterday at the close of the 2007 Palarong Panlalawigan.

Bacolod, representing Area VII, came-from-behind to retain the elementary crown, while NOPSSCEA, running third heading into the last day of the competitions, willed its way to two major team titles to end a long drought in the high school division.

The NOPSSCEA victory formally snapped the two-year domination of Area IV, which finished third in both divisions.

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION

NOPSSCEA, which staged a week-long sportsfest similar to the Palaro for the first time in many years to determine its Provincial Meet entries, came away with 280 points, 20 more than Bacolod , which wound up second for the third straight year.

Proving that their prowess was way beyond their pet events swimming and basketball, the NOPSSCEA bets collected maximum points from all fronts, sweeping badminton, taekwondo and chess, before snaring the girls' volleyball title at the expense of Area IV.

The victories in these events, including basketball and the two titles in swimming, were worth 197.5 points.

It was actually the victories in chess, basketball and girls' volleyball yesterday that shoved NOPSSCEA ahead of Area IV, the leader heading into the final day, and

NOPSSCEA also rode on the momentum of its second-place finishes in archery, girls' table tennis, boys' volleyball and football, which contributed 60 points overall.

What made the NOPSSCEA feat more remarkable was its absence in point-heavy events like baseball, softball and sepak takraw. NOPSSCEA also did not see action in boxing and gymnastics. These events are not part of the association's sporting calendar.

Emerging as the high school division's top athletes were Kiefer Piccio of Bacolod Christian Center of Negros and Krestia Angela Lacson, who swam their way to seven golden finishes at the Panaad Olympic Pool.

For its part, Bacolod made headway following victories in athletics, archery, sepak takraw, softball and boys' table tennis. The titles were worth 155 points.

Making their presence felt for Bacolod were athletes Ana Marie Jagocoy, Rolando Uberas and Mary Joy Caporas. Uberas and Jagocoy ruled the sprint events, while Caporas, a sophomore, dominated the middle-distance races.

Area IV tried in vain to keep its advantage on the final day but only managed to strike in boys' volleyball, a win that was worth 25 points. Area IV's other victories came in boxing, girls' table tennis and boys and girls' lawn tennis

San Carlos , representing Area I, kept its football title at the expense of NOPSSCEA.

ELEMENTARY EVENTS

Bacolod registered 256 points for a winning margin of 39 points over NOPSSCEA in the elementary division.

Trailing NOPSSCEA by just two points Thursday, Bacolod gained the edge by topping sipa, softball and football yesterday. Those wins were worth 65 points

Also striking gold for Bacolod were its girls' table tennis and gymnastics squads. Complementing the title wins were runner-up finishes in boys' volleyball, boys and girls' swimming and basketball.

NOPSSCEA drew victories from swimming, basketball, chess and boys' volleyball.

Area IV topped boys' table tennis and boys' lawn tennis, while Area VII came out of nowhere to wrest the athletics titles.

The stars of the elementary division were Cauayan athlete Richmar Villaluz, who won three golds, and Erma Rose Gamao of Escalante and NOPSSCEA swimmers Joshua Balinas, Dana Mae Testa and Mary Angela Pandan. *CPT

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