UC looks for a dominating performance

CEBU, Philippines — Not only retaining their throne, the University of Cebu athletes also seek to put on a dominant performance in the 29th Cebu City Olympics that goes full blast today at the Cebu City Sports Center.

UC athletics officials are not contented as they want to surpass the team’s performance last year when they rule the secondary division with 57 gold, 57 silver and 47 bronze medals. UC athletes also grabbed the third place overall in the elementary division.

“We are better prepared this time. Hopefully, we will improve further aside from just retaining the crown,” said UC’s athletic department head Jessica Jawad-Honoridez.

The additional sports that UC is joining this year are basketball, pencak silat and volleyball. UC, however, does not have entries in batted sport such as baseball and softball along with sepak takraw, wushu, and wresting.

“I also pray for our athletes health because your victory is sweeter when you know nga patas ang laban dili lang kay tungod kay wala sa kondisyon or nagsakit ang imong kontra,” said Honoridez.

Meanwhile, UC lend some athletes to other school like the Abellana National School who picked up two of their players in futsal.

The organizing DepEd-Cebu City division is allowing pick-ups from other schools providing that such school is not fielding in a team in the CCO. Dep-Ed also wants to give those athletes a chance to shine and be part of Team Cebu City’s roster for the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Regional Meet next year.

Most of the sporting disciplines including the medal-rich athletics, badminton, billiards, boxing, swimming, sepak takraw, football and special games will be played at the CCSC.

Archery will begin today at the Fort San Pedro’s Children’s Park, arnis and gymnastics at Tisa Elementary School, baseball and softball at Labangon Elementary School, chess at Robinson’s Galleria, futsal at Don Bosco Technical College, dancesport at Mabolo Elementary School and scrabble at Don Carlos Gothong Memorial High School.

Basketball will be in three different venues with the elementary boys and secondary girls at the Cebu Eastern College gym while the secondary boys will be at the Cebu Sports Institute. Taekwondo and wushu will also be held at the CSI, while CitiGreen Tennis Resort hosts tennis.

Karatedo and pencak silat will be done at SM Seaside City while elementary volleyball will be at the Opra Elementary School.