University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras and Baguio Central University conspired to catapult Cordillera Administrative Region for a third-place finish at the close of the National Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games in Legazpi, Albay last week.
Cordillera closed the weeklong sports meet for private colleges with a 54-gold medal haul including 46 silvers and 54 bronze medals in the senior’s division, improving from the fourth-place finish in last year’s edition held in Zamboanga City.
UB accounted for 32 gold medals, 15 from archery where they snagged the over-all title while taekwondo added seven.
Athletics and swimming also accounted for four gold medals each while women’s boxing chipped in two gold medals.
Shanylle Samson towed UB with six gold medals in archery that she took in the 30, 60-meter distance,
overall FITA, mixed team, and in the Olympic round including the team event where she teamed up with fellow Lady Cardinals Keturah Collene Gonzales, Kateleen Yanna Marie Somera, and Faith Anne Laruan
Gonzales meanwhile added two gold medals after topping the 30 and the 70 – meter distance while Cyrus Ebenezer Obenita chipped in two more in the men’s 50 – meter distance and the team event gold after joining forces with Edison Louis Jacoba.
Also winning multiple gold medals for UB are Hassan Lorana who topped the 800- and 1500-meter run, swimmers Jan Mikaela Caruncho (50 meter and 100 meters breast stroke) and Joshua Alexander Ramos (400- and 1500-meter freestyle).
UC Jaguars meanwhile came home with 13 golds including 22 silvers and four bronze medals.
Archer Reinzbert Burgos led the gold medal haul for UC bagging the top honors in the 30 – M, 60 – M, Fita Round, Mixed Team and Men’s Team event with Jose Alexandrius Lazaro.
Weightlifter Jona Mae Laroza meanwhile had three gold medals topping the 83kg clean and jerk, 83kg snatch, and 83kg total.
Creishna Kate Gayudan also added a gold in taekwondo winning in the bantamweight division.
With its third-place finish, CAR also improved its medal haul by seven golds, 17 silvers, and 20 bronze after bagging 47-29-34 medals.
Powered by their weightlifters, the Baguio Central University Eagles also bagged nine golds in weightlifting and one in boxing courtesy of Adan Awas.
Emilyn Ngan-oy bagged three gold medals in the 44kg category (snatch, clean and jerk, and overall weight lifted) with Julie Anne Ogoc adding three more in the 48kg category (snatch, clean and jerk, and overall weight lifted) with Sarah Garwageo winning all three golds in the 54kg category (snatch, clean and jerk, and overall weight lifted).
Baguio College of Technology, who comprised bulk of the region’s women’s volleyball team also saved a bronze in the competition.
Central Visayas won the overall championship after harvesting 119 golds, 73 silvers and 65 bronzes, far ahead of Western Visayas (79-38-55),
Student-athletes from more than 400 private schools competed in 27 disciplines including eight team sports, 14 individual and dual sports and five Cultural & Academic Events in various areas.
Tuguegarao City will host the next edition and is expected to unfold between March and April due to the elections slated in May. Roderick Osis
