ROXAS CITY --- Negros Occidental showed its might on several fronts yesterday as it braced for looming title showdowns with perennial rival Iloilo the Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association Meet here.

Victories in volleyball, badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis kept the NOPSSCEA banner flying even as Iloilo stayed hot on the Negrenses' heels with victories in basketball, volleyball and other team events.

There was no movement in the overall table as no medals were contested yesterday but a major shake-up looms when the medal-rich swimming competitions unfold at the Olympic Pool inside the Villareal Sports Complex today. Buoyed by victories in women's athletics and football in Iloilo City Tuesday, Negros is on top of the heap with a collection of 42 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals with Iloilo in second a 36-34-25 haul. Co-host Capiz is a far third with a 4-43-20 collection.

Represented by Riverside College standouts, the Negros men and women's squads --- denied of the crowns by Iloilo teams in the 2005 tournament --- remained unbeaten in two games, after victories against Aklan and Antique at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic.

Alex Borromeo cruised to victory against his Aklan opponent, 21-6, 21-4, in the first singles match, before Niel Callupez and Kevin Cioco finished the job with a 21-10, 21-16 triumph in the doubles event.

Rosalie Soberano was also impressive in impressive form in whipping her Aklan foe, 21-12, 21-4. The pair of Hillary Baje and Sheila Ledesma also prevailed in the doubles match, 21-9, 21-3.

Against Antique, Borromeo registered a 21-4, 21-6 win in the first singles and Callupez teamed up with Carlos Benedict Hojilla to wrap up the tie with a resounding 21-4, 21-2 victory in the doubles. Soberano also overpowered her Antique foe, 21-4, 21-0, before Ledesma and Baje sealed the tie with a 21-4, 21-6 win in the doubles match.

Over at the Villareal Sports Complex, Negros Occidental walloped Capiz in straight sets before a huge crowd at the start of the men's volleyball tournament. With captain Mark Sabusap, Michael Ca-ayon, Stephen Benalon and Clint Aboy attacking at will, an error-prone Capiz squad proved to be an easy prey for the Negrenses, who went on to post a resounding 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 victory in 43 minutes.

The Negros lady spikers were more unforgiving, though, as their clinical 25-6, 25-9, 25-14 beating of Aklan in just 39 minutes matched the fastest victory of the day posted by the Iloilo men's team, which downed Aklan, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13.

Both Negros teams are expected to have a tougher time today when they meet the Iloilo teams.

The Negrenses were also triumphant at the Villareal Tennis Court, where Ellaine Rodriguez made quick work of her Capiz foe, 6-1, 6-0. The tandem of Khriza Millendez and Carissa Lizares also prevailed, 6-0, 6-2, in the doubles contest of the tournament patterned after the Davis Cup.

Table tennis action at the Filamer College Covered Gym saw Negros, mentored by George and Mark Jimenez of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, blank Aklan, 3-0, in its first match. The squad is composed of Ma. Catherin Garcia, Judy Mae Iso, April May Katada, Shairen Pie Lagunday, Ruby Ann Longno and Ma. Charmis Pernito.

The men's team, represented by UNO-R players Edward Cachumbo, Frederick Gonzaga, Ferdinand Lagdamat, Timothy Tanque and Siegfred Tupas, was even more impressive, racking up two victories before the end of the day. The NOPSSCEA paddlers trounced Antique, 3-0, before beating Capiz, 3-0. The defending champion sepak takraw team, represented by USLS and Visayan Maritime Academy players, plunges into action at 7 a.m. today against Iloilo.

The rookie-laden NOPSSCEA basketball team will be tested today when it meets Aklan at 8 a.m at the Capiz Gymnasium. The Negrenses will also take on Antique at 3 p.m. and coach Dennis Tumayan said the two matches will be adjustment periods for his team, which, he said, needed a longer preparation for this meet.

Tumayan's statement came in the heels of Iloilo's 135-34 massacre of Antique.

But focus will be on the swimming competitions, where former Palarong Pambansa standouts will all be seeing action. Among the notable names in the Negros roster are Ma. Katrina Alagaban, Nianh Lyn Marie Acain, Michelle Petero and Abigail Galang. They are joined in the team by Abigail Araneta, Czarina Deles, Tanya Lagtapon, Kristy Litonjua, Kascha Joy Reyes, Ma. Sandrea Salay.

The Iloilo squad is expected to lean on Chrizel Lagunday, an ASEAN Age-Group veteran and a multiple gold medalist in the National University Games in Bacolod City last year.

The men's team will be missing senior Erik Litonjua, who has opted to focus on his studies, leaving a slew of young tankers to stand at the forefront of the campaign. They are Mickhail Balinas, Ryan Beljera, Myrbe Catague, Manuel de la Paz, Kevin King, Jason Makilan, Ronald Padronia, Jose Enrique Sayson and Joed Bezer Tan. *CPT

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