ILOILO CITY – A day after falling short of expectations, the NOPSSCEA women's athletics squad produced a stirring comeback to retain its crown in the Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association Meet here.

The team composed of University of St. La Salle and West Negros College standouts bagged 13 golds, after victories in the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m relay events yesterday.

The 4x400m squad of Ana Mae Dionela, Marivic Banate, Aiza Delos Santos and Allyn Salas fittingly capped the comeback by beating Capiz in the last event at the Iloilo Sports Complex tracks.

The spotlight, however, belonged to swimmer Dominique Balinas who came up with seven golden finishes in women's swimming. Balinas won five individual golds and two more in the relay events.

With the women's squad of coach Inocentes Maquino making a late-charge to amass 17 golds and the men's football team winning a fourth straight title, the NOPSSCEA contingent left Iloilo with 55 golds tucked in its bag.

But the other NOPSSCEA teams plunge into action in Kalibo, Aklan today, needing to overhaul the 22-gold lead of Iloilo , which fished out 48 golds in swimming and snared 29 in athletics.

Iloilo extended its reign in the men's athletics competition with 22 golds, while Capiz bumped Negros off the No. 2 spot with nine golds.

Negros wound up third with seven golds, two each courtesy of WNC standouts Anthony Babiera (1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase) Rowell Hulleza (5,000m and 10,000m). The other NOPSSCEA gold medalists in the men's division are Francis Tejares III (110m hurdles), Rizaldy Baleno (pole vault) and Junmar Baniqued (5000m walk).

In ruling the women's division, NOPSSCEA also banked on victories of Jossie Entrina (javelin throw), Salas (800m), Analyn Gabayoyo (high jump), Jennifer Flores (discus throw) and Maribel Ymalay (3000m walk).

The NOPSSCEA booters, bannered by WNC and UNO-R players, boosted the tally by 11 golds with a comprehensive 6-2 win over Iloilo early yesterday.

Adding strength to the NOPSSCEA campaign were swimming double-gold winner Miguel Villanueva and Michele Petero, the women's 100m fly winner.*CPT

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