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BACOLOD CITY—Reaping the benefits of a stronger, more focused program, Jose Rizal U struck with four golds in athletics Thursday, even as San Beda and University of the Philippines created the biggest ripples in the pool in the 17th Sandugo University Games here.
Threatening to put an end to Far Eastern U’s stranglehold of the competition at the Panaad Stadium, JRU leaned on the golden efforts of Melbert Diones, Eduard Paler, Rudyber Hernandez and Domingo Cabradilla.
Diones took top honors in shotput with a 12.38-m effort, while Paler reigned supreme in triple jump, leaping to a distance of 14.65m.
Hernandez carted away with the gold medal in the 800m run in 1 minute 56.44 seconds, while Cabradilla took the 110m hurdles crown by clocking 15.32 seconds.
“We’ve been getting a lot of support from the school which important for the morale of the athletes,” said Jojo Posadas, a member of the JRU coaching staff, who’s taking the lead role here in lieu of Elma Muros.
The Sea Lions of San Beda swept all four golds at stake in men’s swimming—a feat duplicated by the Fighting Maroons in the distaff side of the event sponsored by Smart.
Reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Wilfredo Sunglao and Ruenpone Jugar ruled the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle respectively, and were also part of the 4x100m medley relay squad that took the gold in 4 minutes 8.14 seconds at the University of St. La Salle’s 25-m pool.
The Sea Lions also drew a golden performance from Joshua Lorenz Francisco, who timed 4:18.44 to bag the gold in the 400 free.
UP standouts Claire Adorna and Jodie De Leon emerged double-gold winners on Day One after ruling one individual event each and also powering the 4x100m medley squad to the gold medal. UP’s other victory came courtesy of Beatriz Grabador, the winner in the women’s 400 free with a time of 4:47.53.
FEU copped three golds in athletics with Christopher Ulboc and Daylyn Carmen ruling the 1500m events and Mary Ann Dela Cruz topping the 800m run.
Also grabbing the limelight were St. Benilde’s Daniel Noval and De La Salle’s Maureen Schrijvers, who ruled the 100m races.
Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo and UAAP rival UST forged a quarterfinal duel in men’s basketball. The Eagles topped Group A with four wins after an 85-68 walloping of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.
The Tigers fell to second in Group C after an 81-86 loss to Adamson Wednesday night.