OVERALL
STANDINGS:
Cebu City- 542
Cebu Province- 292
Bohol Province- 238.5
Dumaguete City- 136
Mandaue City- 127.5

Tagbilaran City, Bohol—Cebu City’s secondary badminton players, led by University of Cebu (UC) smashers, swept all five gold medals yesterday to help the Niños extend their lead in the 2008 Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA).

The Niños hauled a total of 21 golds yesterday to improve to 542 points, way ahead of current second placer, Cebu Province, which has 292 points.

Bohol Province is at third with 238.5 points while Dumaguete City (136) and Mandaue City (127.5) are at fourth and fifth, respectively.

Cebu City’s badminton success yesterday was led by Irish Mae Ares, who won the girls singles event by beating teammate Celia Kimberly Li of Bethany School in the final, 21-12, 21-18.

Jeralyn Taboada and Jessa Mae Lagat followed suit by capturing the doubles crown.

Jay-R Batulan (boys singles), the pair of Jeffrey Lepaopao and Mark Joseph Puentevella (boys doubles) and the tandem of Lepaopao and Taboada (mixed doubles) were the other winners in badminton.

Cebu City’s trackters continued to dominate the competition as they added 12 gold medals for a total of 30 at the close of the four-day track and field events.

UC’s Lindley Navaja ruled the 100-m and 400-m events for fourth gold in the boys secondary individual events.

Cebu City captured two titles in chess after ruling the girls secondary and boys elementary levels.

Coached by Romeo Romagos of UC, the UC girls team of Jacel Bukog and Jessa Balbona collected 11.5 points to win the crown.

Felix Shaun and Marq Gabrielle Balbona of Cebu City finished with 12 points to claim the title in the boys elementary level.

UC table paddlers Gino Selma, Jeffrey Apas, Jordan Obong and Stephen Jaca, meanwhile, claimed the title in the boys secondary level after beating Cebu province in the final, 3-0.

Cebu City is eyeing two more gold medals when the girls secondary and boys elementary team competes in the finals today.

Cebu City’s cagers, meanwhile, carved two wins yesterday to advance to the championship round.

Composed mostly of University of the Visayas athletes, Cebu City defeated Mandaue City, 90-75, and Dumaguet City, 84-79.

Cebu City will meet former tormentor Bohol Province in the final.

Cebu City still has a chance to garner more golds as its secondary baseball made the final after beating Bohol, 5-4 and Dumaguete City, 10-3.

In secondary football, Cebu City, Tagbilaran City and Cebu Province entered the top three while in the elementary class Cebu City made the final after beating Tagbilaran City, 4-1.

But Cebu City’s pugilists failed to live up to their lofty billing as they failed to win a single gold in five categories.