BACOLOD—The University of Negros Oriental-Recoletos Airmen soared high at the expense of their Western Visayas State University counterparts in the debuting sport of sepak takraw in the Philippine ROTC Games Visayas leg here Thursday.
Carried by the core of its varsity squad, UNO-R outclassed WVSU 15-7, 15-6 in the regu finals at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University in completing a golden treble at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University High School gym.
It was the third gold for the charges of UNO-R sepak takraw varsity coach Richard dela Cruz after ruling the men’s double and quadrant competitions of the meet backed by the Department of National Defense and Commission on Higher Education.
On the other hand in the Army division, Iloilo Science and Technology University, University of Antique and Carlo Hilado Memorial State University took top honors in the doubles, quadrant and regu contests, respectively, of the sportsfest also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Bacolod City government led by Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez.
“This was really a team effort by my players for these victories. They played well in all three sepak takraw events,” noted Dela Cruz of the success of his team’s success as it gets to play in all three contests in the Philippine ROTC Games nationals in Indang, Cavite in August.
“I would like to thank all of my teammates for our victories. Our hard work and sacrifices paid off,” said team captain and tekong (server) Jun-Eyr Padua, whose consistent serving also served as key to UNO-R’s last triumph.
The coach also revealed that his team will likewise get to represent the Negros Island Region in the Private Schools Athletic Association nationals scheduled in late July in Legazpi, Albay.
In boxing staged at the Robinson’s Bacolod Activity Center. Army cadet James Darwin Masangya won by unanimous decision over Jhunren Ignacio in the men’s bantamweight finals while Gilbert Vere Jr. also outclassed Christian Moses 5-0 for the gold in the men’s featherweight class.
John Paul Bullido stopped Vaness Liboon in the first round for the mint in the lightweight division while Bene Tabaco-an was just as impressive in knocking out Jobert Caramohan in the second round of the light welterweight finals.
In taekwondo held at the SM City Bacolod, Army cadet Renan Pasigay of Tanon College Inc. ruled the men’s flyweight division, the same CHMSU’s John dela Rosa, Josh Lyle Pindos, Marcjan Flores and Kerby Emperado in the bantam, featherweight, lightweight and welter-heavyweight division, respectively.
Capiz State University Army cadette Jean Dumolong bagged the gold in the women’s finweight division while Western Visayas State University-Himamaylan’s Krisofhl Salvo and North West Samar State University’s Dannamyr Antivo were tops in the flyweight and bantamweight classes, respectively.
Bago City College Air Force cadet Rodjune Depra beat Abuyog Community College’s Remuel Jay Impuesto 3-0 in the men’s 57-kilogram finals of kickboxing at the 888 Mall Activity Center.
