2018 CVIRAA meet: Niños head for another title

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Niños continue to raked medals despite already securing their 26th straight title in the penultimate day of  the 2018 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet here.

Cebu City has an unassailable lead with 107 gold, 58 silver and 70 bronze medals. Bohol Province is at far second with 37-35-31 gold-silver-bronze medals, while host Tagbilaran City is at third with 20-18-14.

The Niños closed the athletics event strong with three golds courtesy of their secondary boys relay team who dominated the 4X100m event, while Crystal Villanueva topped the high jump competition with 1.52-meters as Stephen Pekitpekit lorded it over in the secondary boys high jump with 1.80m.

Alfred Quindao and Mark Otida, for their part, also produced two gold medals for Cebu City in wushu.

The Southwestern University spikers clinched the gold in the secondary boys volleyball after beating Carcar, 25-13, 25-15, 25-18, in the finals, while University of Southern Philippines belles dominated the secondary girls class with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-15 victory over Mandaue City.

The Niños also got five gold medals in the chess event. Edelyn Vosotros led the charge after winning the elementary standard and blitz event.

Chris Aldritz Pondoyo, for his part, snared the gold in the standard event. He also led his team to a championship in the secondary boys class.

Cebu City also pugs harvested two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

Eduardo Jimenez shone for Cebu City after winning the elementary 46-48 kgs. class over Lapu-Lapu City’s Diobel Hero, while John Paul Gabunilas outsmarted John Vega of Cebu Province for the youth 46-49 kgs. class gold.

Tagbilaran City’s Joseph Sumabong prevented Cebu City from sweeping all gold medals after beating Christian Dominic Castanares via split decision in the 49-52 kgs. final.

Meanwhile, Francis Lambayan registered a double-gold in the secondary tennis event. Lambayan overpowered Venz Lominoque of Mandaue City, 8-2, while the duo of Elizabeth Abarquez and Zethley Mae Alferez topped the doubles event at the expense of Cebu Province, 8-4.

Cebu City table tennis team also chipped three gold medals.