Cebu's hometown bets rule in 6th Dancesport sa Sugbu

CEBU, Philippines - DanceSport Team Cebu City gave the leaner and meaner Team Manila a run for its money in the 6th DanceSport sa Sugbu and Queen City Open DanceSport Championship last Saturday night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

In the sought-after Latin Open category, Cebu bets Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Cañeda missed by just a few points in beating reigning national champions Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo of Team Manila.

Spectators watched with bated breath as the two contending couples belted it out in five dances:samba, chachacha, rumba, paso doble and jive along with four other finalists.

Overall, Cebu gained 16 golds, 21 silvers and 19 bronzes out of a possible 37 golds. It also reigned supreme in the Latin disciplines with 10 golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes out of a possible 18 golds. 

Cebu's bets took the top spots in the Latin Youth 5 Dance with Zjiane Troy Villarta and Zjiana Tracy Villarta grabbing the gold, while the gold in the Latin Teacher-Student Amateur 3 Dance went to Eo Lowen Rendon and Nanaho Nishiyama.

The hosts also got the gold in the Latin Youth 3 Dance behind the efforts of Jeffrey Ruben Benarao and Mary Mae Canillo as well as the silver medal courtesy of James Bryan Camacho and Christine Camacho.

Cebu lorded it over in the Latin Senior 2 Dance, Latin Junior 5 Dance and Latin Amateur Closed Visayas through Charlie Camacho and Marrise Reyes, John Paul Mocorro and Therese Andre Quilaton, and Eo Lowen Rendon and Mary Desiree Seraga.

In the Standard category, Cebu held its ground with an all-Cebu win in the Standard Juvenile 5 Dance, Standard Junior 3 Dance, Standard Junior 5 Dance and Standard Amateur Closed Visayas, thanks to the splendid performances of Carl Nathañyl Papellero and Jasmine Kate Labra, Andrew Ysla and Kathlene Joy Diluvio,  and Zjiane Troy Villarta and Zjiana Tracy Villarta.

In Standard Juvenile 3 Dance, Cebu's Carl Nathañyl Papellero and Jasmine Kate Labra grabbed the gold, while  Bjorn Torreon and Jam Flores topped the Standard Teacher-Student Amateur 3.

Cebu and Manila were mostly neck in neck in majority of the categories, with other cities such as Kidapawan, Davao, General Santos and Cagayan sharing in the fight with newbies Panabo and Negros Oriental giving a good showing.

In the Latin Amateur Closed Mindanao category, GenSan’s Ricksley Navaja and Judy Ann Pagcalibangan snared the gold, while Manila’s Jefferson Estoya and Lovely Micu ruled the Latin Amateur Closed Luzon category.

In the Standard Amateur Closed Mindanao category, Patrick Kyle Jardinel and Patricia Louise Jardinel  of  Davao took home the hold.

DanceSport sa Sugbu is the biggest and grandest dancesport competition outside of Metro Manila. Now on its sixth edition, DanceSport sa Sugbu has the biggest participation with nearly a thousand athletes from all over the country. It also drew entries from countries within the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the Unites States. (PR)(FREEMAN)