With its tankers creating the biggest waves at the Panaad Olympic Pool, defending champion and host Negros Occidental stormed into the overall lead in both the elementary and secondary divisions as the Western Visayas Provincial Athletic Association Meet heads to the homestretch in Bacolod City.

Spearheaded by undefeated St. La Salle swimmers Miguel Villanueva and Kiefer Piccio as well as Dominique Balinas and Carmela Nava, Negros Occidental took 110 out of a 120 possible points for swimming that boosted them to the top of the championship table at the end of Day 4 of the six-province meet.

Negros' high school athletes added the golden bonanza at the pool to their earlier triumphs in badminton, lawn tennis and boxing as they tallied 168 points, 17 more than perennial rival Iloilo, as results in taekwondo, chess table tennis and gymnastics came in trickles at the Palaro records section inside the Paglaum Sports Complex last night.

There was little cause for concern at the NOMPAC, however, as Negros defeated Iloilo, 83-75, to bag the first championship berth in secondary basketballThe Negrenses will meet the winner between Capiz and Iloilo in the finals this afternoon.

The elementary football crown finally on Negros' coffers, thanks to the booters from San Carlos City, whose 2-1 victory over Iloilo at the Paglaum pitch completed an improbable fightback against a team armed with a twice-to-beat edge heading into the finals.

The win also formally ends the Ilonggos reign in the division, although the visitors remained on top of the high school category after beating Negros, 3-0, in the finals.

Almost lost in the din of the football victory was the triumph at the Bacolod City National School grounds where the batters from La Carlota City blasted Guimaras, 11-1, for the elementary baseball crown.

The victory in baseball, football and the boys' swim crown hiked Negros' output to 149 points with the champions in 12 events, including ballgames like volleyball, basketball and softball as well as athletics yet to be determined.

The Negrenses also took the girls' badminton crown and placed second in sipa, girls' lawn tennis and boys' badminton. Negros defeated Capiz, 92-29, in elementary basketball, while Iloilo gained first finals slot with 98-16 win over Antique.

In elementary softball, Negros, unchallenged in last year's tournament, overwhelmed Capiz, 12-0, for a championship berth.

Domingo Lacson National High School also continued its remarkable run in the regional Palaro, prevailing over Iloilo, 7-3, before blanking Guimaras, 6-0, as they braced for another sweep in secondary softball.

In secondary baseball, Negros was to play against the winner of the Guimaras-Capiz match yesterday for the title. Over at the Doña Corazon Montelibano Elementary School, Negros was assured of a championship berth in sepak takraw after winning against Aklan (2-0) and Iloilo

At the USLS College Covered Court, Negros, represented by Pulupandan spikers, smashed Aklan, 25-15, 25-14 in secondary boys' volleyball, while the girls' squad toppled Guimaras, 25-14, 25-12, before falling to Iloilo.

Elementary action saw Negros downing Guimaras, 25-8, 25-14, in the girls' contest, while the boys' team lost a thrilling duel with Guimaras, 25-14, 28-30, 26-24.

The Silay spikers, however, bounced back with a resouinding 25-18, 25-19 triumph over Antique. *CPT

back to top

Negros braces for sweep
Villanueva, Piccio undefeated as hosts capture 3 swim crowns
Three local athletes corner third gold medals
San Carlos XI wins