Eighty-four athletes who have reaped honors for the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association in national competitions take centerstage today when the NOPSSCEA honors them in a program starting 1 p.m. at the St. Scholastica's Academy Gymnasium in Bacolod City.

The University of St. La Salle has the most number of awardees with 39, followed by West Negros College (19), University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (17), Riverside College (3), John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (3), Bacolod Christian College of Negros (3), St. Benilde School (1), Trinity Christian School (1), St. Joseph's School-La Salle (1), La Consolacion College-Gardenville (1) and LCC-Main (1).

On top of the honor roll is swimming standout Michele Petero of USLS, who bagged four golds and three silvers in the PRISAA Games from April 15-21, and sprinter Ma. Rosario Consuelo Baranao, winner of two golds, two silvers and a bronze.

The former Bacolod Tay Tung High School tanker will be joined by her teammates Kascha Joy Reyes, Nianh Lyn Acain and Ma. Katrina Alagaban.

St. Joseph School-La Salle swimmer Carmela Nava, who won one gold, two silvers and a bronze in the April 23-30 Palaro leads the list of athletes in the high school category, while Kiefer Alexander Piccio, who transferred from USLS to BCC, spearheads the crop of athletes in the elementary level.

Piccio bagged a gold, two silvers and two bronze medals in Koronadal.

Football player Jose Miguel Valmayor (USLS), a member of the Western Visayas squad that ruled the Palaro and part of the RP squad saw action in the Asian Under-13 Festival in Malaysia, will also be recognized.

The other awardees in the elementary level are Nikki Servando (badminton), Karlo Del Carmen (swimming) and Nico Kuan (swimming). For chess, the awardees are Adelaide Lim of USLS and her coach, Irving Occeña.

Also included in the honor roll in the high school division are swimmers Hillary Jovette Tan, Cleistah Sol Sabusap and Dominique Balinas, table tennis player Bennjielyn Dayap and volleyball standout John Kirby Bernadas.

In collegiate athletics, the awardees are Mayven De Oro, Helen Tompong, Aiza Delos Santos, Analyn Gabayoyo, Daylin Baylon, Jonalyn Pula and Allyn Grace Salas, Harold Juarez and Edelmar Pescos.

The badminton awardees are Rosalie Soberano and Alex Borromeo of Riverside College. WNC basketball players Virgilio Dapar, Vengie Vergara and Alfie Villariza, members of the Region 6 squad that placed second in the PRISAA will also be recognized.

The champion men's football team --- composed of WNC's Seigfred Apurado, Allan Auman, Joel Ballo-Allo, Vince Chester Braga, Jehram Calvo, Francisco Donieza, Mark Anthony Ferrer, Jaylor Soriano, Jude Tornilla, La Salle's Carlos Bolo and Recoletos players Nelson Chong, Michael Pacite, Niño Rafinian and Samson Sare --- will also be awarded together with head coach Norman Fegidero and his assistant, Noah Sajo.

The other swimming awardees are Jose Enqrique Sayson, Ryan Beljera, Mikhail Balinas and Kevin Imm King, while table tennis gold medalists April May Katada and Shairen Pie Lagunday of UNO-R, Ruby Ann Longno and Judy Mae Iso are also set to receive accolades along with coach George Jimenez.

The taekwondo jins in the honor roll are Jovan Rey Jereza, Pauline Reyes, Rubylyn Mapa, Catherine Samonte, Jesse Bautista, Reuvelle De la Rama and coach Jim Jim Chua.

The volleyball awardees are Stephen Beñon, Melchor Michael Ca-ayon, Kristalien Porche Lopez, Sheryl Silva, Julie Ann Billote, Realyn Valeriano, Kay Aplasca, Loverich Jade Aplasca, Je-An Ledesma, Laedy Cepeda, Ruby Rose Bordon and coaches Roger Banzuela, Marilou Lozada and trainer Carl Steven Barredo.

For chess, the awardees are Annie Montales, Ma. Jennifer Nacion, Mary Grace Tambasen, Cherry Gimarangan, Rolanie Villanueva and head coach Ericson Rios and his assistant, Felix Gonzales II.*CPT

back to top

Nopsscea honors top athletes today
RP five pips Korea for second win
Tirthdas' bets rule derby