Cebu Province Stays on Track for Title Hunt

The Cebu Province added six more gold medals to its total harvest to remain in the thick of the fight for the overall title in the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg on Wednesday here in Iloilo City.

The gold haul came from the karatedo team, which turned in three gilts, two from athletics and one from sepak takraw.

While it dropped to third place behind defending champion Cebu City, Cebu Province and the Niños have an equal number of 25 golds, opening the possibility of winning the overall crown with team sports still ongoing.

Providing steady boost for Cebu Province’s bid was the karatedo team, which claimed three golds courtesy of Trexie Joy Ogoc, Precious Avegail Belicario and Christine Jhane Tautho who ruled their respective age group in the kumite competition.

Image source: Cebu Provincial Gov’t

In Day 2, the karatekas dominated the kata events, clinching 12 of the 20 golds at stake.

In athletics, Cebu Province’s Moira Frances Erediano clocked 7 minutes and 45 seconds to win the girls 2,000-meter run while its boys team composed of John Luis Dalidgdi, Park Seung Lee, Fritz Tulod and Jibrael Umal won the 4×400-meter relay.

The Province’s sepak takraw squad composed of Jims Karl Dondiego, Kian Denver Barrita, Frances Ricafort, Arjeil Joseph Butaslac and Christzone Spike Cariego also made their presence felt in the meet, beating Iloilo Province, 16-21, 19-21, to win the boys 15-under crown.

Image source: Cebu Provincial Gov’t

Image source: Cebu Provincial Gov’t

In basketball, the Cebu Province squandered a 15-point lead in the second period but regained their composure just in time to repulse the pesky Iloilo City, 100-86.

The Cebuanos battled it out with Cebu City on Thursday morning for a slot to the crossover semifinals. (Cebu Provincial Gov’t)