INQUIRER Sports

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines--National Capital Region, unrelenting in athletics and swimming, moved closer to the overall crown Friday in the National Private School Athletic Association Games here.

With its tankers capturing 14 golds and its tennis standouts bagging eight, NCR hiked its total to an astonishing 71 golds, a whopping 63 more than three-time defending champion Western Visayas, whose only hope of a rally in the last two days rests on team sports, like chess, football and volleyball.

NCR encountered little resistance again at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex pool as San Beda's Ferdinand Frigillana came up with record-smashing wins in the 400-meter medley (5 minutes 10.42) and 200m free (2:09.03).

University of Santo Tomas' Marvie Borja and Lianne Marquez starred for the women's team, setting new meet marks in the 400m IM (5:47.36) and 50m back (32.63), respectively.

The duo also keyed NCR's victory in the women's 4x50m free (1:59.26).

Also carting home their second individual gold medals were Josephine Pilapil, winner of the women's 200m breast in 2:59.63, and Edson Dinglasan, men's 200m breast in 2:38.74.

Western Visayas bagged five golds in swimming, thanks to Chrizel Lagunday in the 200m freestyle and the 4x100m medley relay.

Over at the track, reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Bernardita Mag-aso captured her third gold after ruling the women's 800m Thursday to complement her wins in the 1500m and 3000m.

NCR also swept men's and women's lawn tennis for eight golds, while Central Visayas ruled karatedo with a 4-3-2 gold-silver-bronze count, followed by Cotabato with 4-1-0.