Baguio virtually clinches Caraa tilt

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Baguio City distant its self in the overall standings as it inch closer of retaining the over-all crown in the 2012 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) at the Kalinga Sports Complex.

The Summer Capital bets have seized a total 331 points coming from the 156 of the elementary boys and girls and the 175 points of the secondary boys and girls athletes while Benguet stayed close at 191 to stay in second with 88.5 points in the elementary and 102.5 from the secondary level.

As of this writing, Baguio has already clinched the over-all for the fourth time since 2008 where it was held in Mountain Province.

FEMME FATALE. Archery girls multi medalist led by Benguet's Gaway Tricia Bomogao (center), Daryll Jade Bolislis (left) and Jezreel Mitzi Hongitan during the awarding ceremonies of the 2012 CARAA at the Kalinga Sports Complex. Photo by Roderick Osis

Abra made a significant mark in this year’s competition to stay within the third after earning 153 points with 91.5 from the elementary and the 61.5 of the secondary level as host Kalinga province is at number four with 133 coming from the 86 and 47 in the elementary and high school division, respectively.

Mountain Province, meanwhile, is at number five with 98.5 with 41 coming from the elementary and 57.5 from the secondary as Ifugao and Apayao are at the bottom with 89 and 51 points, respectively.

Despite losing the boys basketball crown to Abra, Baguio retained their title in the arnis boys and girls division, basketball girls, a sweep of the swimming competition for boys and girls, boxing, and volleyball girls for the secondary division.

Baguio was also crowned champions in the men’s artistic gymnastics, women’s artistic gymnastics, and rhythmic gymnastics.

Benguet made wave in the archery girls and volleyball boys as Abra snatched the basketball crown which Baguio lost for the second time after yielding to Kalinga in 2004 of the annual sports meet.

Mountain Province took the archery boys crown in the weeklong event.

In the elementary front, Baguio also swept the swimming competition for boys and girls, arnis in both boys and girls, the boys and girls, men’s artistic gymnastics, women’s artistic gymnastics, and rhythmic gymnastics, and the volleyball boys.

Abra is at number two after significant wins in basketball, boxing who was tied for the over-all championship with Benguet, and second place finishes in swimming for boys and girls.

Benguet is third after tying for the over-all crown in boxing and second place finishes in basketball, arnis, sipa takraw, and volleyball boys while Kalinga scored victories in sipa takraw and volleyball girls.

Benguet inches closer to Baguio in Caraa

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The early morning drizzle slowed Baguio’s romp in the second day of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) with two and a half days remaining in the competition.

Benguet stays close at second after snatching points in athletics while Mt. Province continues its romp in archery and athletics to stay close at number three in the rankings.

Kate Valerie Nabe snatched the gold medal in the hundred-meter (100-m) high hurdles for elementary girls with a time of 19.12 seconds while Roxanne de Vera leaped 8.92m to win the gold in the triple jump event also for elementary girls at the Kalinga Sports Complex.

Benguet’s Earl Jason Pardillo jumped 9.67m to win the gold in the boy’s side of the triple jump while archer Gaway Tricia Bomogao of Benguet fired 249 points after 12 rounds to win the gold in the 50 meters for secondary girls.

Arnold Galap scored two gold medals for Mountain Province after winning in the 800-m run with a time of two minutes and 10.59 seconds then followed it up with another win in the 5000-m run with a time of 17 minutes and 29.59 seconds.

Archer Qun Gayad also scored his second gold medal for Mt. Province after firing away 261 points in archery’s 50-m event in the boys’ secondary level.

Mt. Province triple jumper dexter Ing-ingan leaps 12.51 meters to erna the gold medal in the ongoing 2012 CARAA at the Kalinga Sports Complex. Photo by Roderick Osis   

Dexter Ing-ingan leaped 12.51m to win the triple jump event for secondary boys to add to Mt. Province’s medal haul while Joey Pedro was the fastest in the 110-m high hurdles clocking 12.51 seconds.

Mountain Province also topped the team competition in lawn tennis for elementary boys after edging Baguio who settled for second and Kalinga placing third.

Abra also scored a gold in athletics courtesy of Boying Guayen after throwing the heavy ball with a distance of 10.59m in the shot-put for elementary boys event.

Baguio’s Abegail Benalio shined in the shotput elementary girls by throwing the ball with a distance of 9.47m and Sisa Mae Carunungan added another gold in the 800-m run with a time of two minutes and 43.49 seconds.

Baguio arnisadores shows way

TABUK CITY, KALINGA  - Baguio athletes opened their title retention bid in the 2012 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association after almost sweeping the Arnis competition over at the Kalinga Sports Center here.

Baguio stick masters took 13 of the 14 events in the Anyo (form) category  to start day one of the six province and one city sports conclave that will run up to February 10 with the gold winners earning a free ticket to the Palarong Pambansa in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Oliver Magales led the charge for the summer capital bets after winning the gold medal in the single weapon of the anyo completion while Donald Kinggingan of Ifugao and Jan Caspe of Benguet took the silver and bronze medal respectively.

Mher Becyagen meanwhile won it for Baguio in the girls secondary division with Antonette Lopez of Benguet and Charlene del Rosario of Kalinga settling for second and third respectively.        

Eric Cagawa and Eza Yalong meanwhile won the gold in the elementary boys and girls division for the single weapon division as Jester Pasicolan (Mt. Prov.) and Ricvon Hull (Benguet) was second and third in the boys category as Jana Tumapang (MP) and Synalee Galo (Benguet) took the silver and bronze in the girls division.

Magales and becyagen then scored their second gold of the day by winning both the double weapon division as Donald Kingingan (Ifugao) and McJefferson Ban-eg (MP) settled for second and third in the boys division while Ero Lyn Mang-gayo (MP) and Charlyn del Rosario of Kalinga was second and third in the girls competition.

Baguio also won the gold medal in the girls paired double weapon with Benguet and Mt. Province settling for second and third.

Mt. Province snatched the boys paired double weapon category as Ifugao took the silver with Baguio salvaging for third.

Baguio came charging anew in the boys and girls team single weapon event with Benguet and Kalinga settling for second and third in the girls division as Kalinga and Ifugao took the silver and bronze in the boys division respectively.

Baguio then brought home the mixed double weapon in the elementary division including the secondary girls and boys competition.

Over at the Kalinga Provincial Police Office, Baguio archers where able to hit the mark as it brought home two of the four gold medals being disputed in the first day.

Azry Haji Masri mustered 322 points to top the 30 meters event in the secondary archery besting Qun Gayad of Mt. Province and Edgar Molintas II of Benguet who settled for second and third respectively.

In the distaff side, Gaway Tricia Bomogao of Benguet fired 303 to win the gold as Jezreel Mitzi Hongitan of Baguio and Daryll Jade Bolislis also from Baguio for the silver and bronze respectively.

Mountain Province’ Qun Gayad meanwhile tunred back the tide in the 40 meters event as it scored 283 for the gold besting Azry Haji Masri and Edgar Molintas II of Benguet  for the silver and bronze in that order.


Baguio’s Hongitan shined in the 40 meters of the girls division with 279 points besting Bomogao of Benguet and Bolislis of Baguio who both took the silver and bronze medal respectively. Roderick Osis

UC claims 7th, SLU retains men’s title

UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras and Saint Louis University scored a flawless ball game to share the top honors in the softball competition in the 25th Baguio – Benguet Educational Athletic League at the BSU grounds during the weekend.

The UC Lady Jaguars are now in seventh heaven as it shut-out Benguet State University, 17-0, to lay claim on the women’s title for their seventh crown in seven years of the annual collegiate tournament.

“I’m owed, thankful, it’s meaningful. It will be a legacy. The young ladies of UC are writing history,” said coach Joel Panes of UC.

The ladies defending champion opened the first inning with a six to nothing blasts before scoring another four in the second inning.

BSU had a glimpse of a possible point in the third inning after two walks but the Lady Wildcats failed to capitalize on that walk as UC went home to win their eighth crown in ten years.

“A shut out is a difficult achievement. The defense was just tight and the pitchers did a good job in limiting hits,” quipped Panes.

Saint Louis also shutdown BSU in their match to win their fourth consecutive crown in the men’s division as it also fashioned out a 17-0 win Sunday afternoon.

“It’s the same core as last year except that three of them are rookies and three of them will also graduate this year,” said coach Joey Jocson.

“We owe this  a lot to our players but without the proper guidance of their coaches, this championship would not be possible,” added SLU athletic director Henry Fuentes shortly after the team’s victory.          

The softball tournament will also mark a history in the BBEAL as it partnered with the Amateur Softball  Association of the Philippines and Cebuana Lhuillier to support the softball tournament. Roderick OSis

Banario, Eustaquio all set for One FC stint

Whether a knock or by unanimous decision.

This was how Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao predicts the outcome of his two upcoming wards when they finally set foot in Singapore’s One Fighting Championship event dubbed Battle of Heroes that will take place on February 11, 2012 at the The BritAma Arena in North Jakarta, Indonesia.

“They’re both ready, it’s either by knock out or a unanimous win for both fighters,” a bold prediction from Sangiao, a former mix martial arts champion himself.

Banario will be a replacement fighter for Erick Kelly of Yawyan Ardigma, who is also a Baguio-based mix martial fighter just like the URCC lightweight champ.

It will be Banario’s first foray into international mix martial events after plunging into the URCC two years ago where he handily won against Rommel Del-is in the URCC event and will be facing the dangerous Korean Bae Yong Kwon.

“Banario has improved his striking skills for this event,” added Sangiao

A veteran of Road FC, Kweon has an impressive record of six wins, including two knock outs and two submissions with two defeats, one coming from American Mark Striegl way back in 2010.

Banario will be seeking his seventh career win with no defeats including five fights that led to submission and will be fighting in the featherweight division this time.

Eustaquio, who has a two win-one loss record in his mma career will be gunning for his third when he battles Singaporean Alex Silva in the undercard who will be eyeing a follow up to his first career win in mma.

“We have geared up Geje’s wrestling and grappling skills because his opponent is a Brazillian Jujitsu champion,” Sangiao quipped. Roderick Osis      

City High tops Shakey’s NL leg

BAGUIO City National High School maintained its mastery over its opponents to rule the northern Luzon leg of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League at the UC gym recently.

City High dominated the entire leg of the tournament now on its ninth year by edging Phases Learning Center in their winner take all final series in four sets, 25 – 14, 23 – 25, 25 – 13, 25 – 14 to join other schools from all over the country in the national finals.

BCNHS earlier disposed Benguet State University while Phases downed Benguet National High School in their semis match –up to arrange a title duel in the tournament backed by Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics, Philippine Volleyball Federation, Metro Sports and Volley Prep.

In the winning the regional leg, City High almost took all the individual honors in the mythical six selection led by most valuable player and best setter Cherry Atuban.

City High’s individual honorees include the best libero plum which went to Ella Copesof City High, Mary Joy Baron as best blocker, best server in Julienne Gudatan and best digger was Anna Marie Gatti.

Phases, for their efforts salvaged one individual plum from Anna Colleen Rossi who was adjudged as the best spiker in the tournament.

In the battle for third, Benguet National High School prevailed over BSU in two sets, 25 – 23, 25 – 20.

Some ninety-eight teams representing eight regions, including the winner in the Northern Luzon and Davao will be vying for spots in the national competition in the ninth season of the Shakey’s backed tournament making it the biggest in scope and participation.


Berths in the national championship, slated March 21-24 in Davao City, are currently being up for grabs in the nationwide tournament. Roderick Osis

City High stops UC for NBTC series finale opener

BAGUIO City National High school played steadier down the stretch to take game one in their best of three series against the University of the Cordilleras for the NBTC D-League Elite.

City High scored the last nine basket for a 65-58 win at the UC gymnasium Wednesday afternoon in the tournament backed by FRB Foundation and Sea-Oil.

Jan delos Santos brought again his ‘A’ game with 23 points to lead all scorers but it was Ashley Nelson who played the heroes role as he scored the seven out of the nine points by City High in the last 1:07 minute of the ball game.

Nelson finished with ten points in the ball game.

“The boys played well and they were able to hold their own kasi they were so composed in the last minute that I didn’t have to call my last two time outs,” said city High coach Joey Agaser.

After finishing the first three quarters in a close encounter, City High opened the fourth quarter with a two point edge, 44-42 before the junior Jaguars made it at 44 all at the 9th minute mark of the payoff canto.

It was a see-saw battle from then on with City High having a one point lead, 56-55 with 2:46 remaining before Mac  Zapanta of UC scored a triple to take the driver’s seat at 58-56 with 2:-8 remaining.

Nelson then tied the score at 58 off a pass from Delos Santos with 1:07 remaining.

UC failed to convert in their next three possessions while City High converted in their succeeding possession including a free throw coming from Nelson and two from Jonas Gesmundo to finish the ball game with eight points.


Karl Soriano led UC with 23 points while Renze Rasheed Cosme finished with 15 as Zapanta added 10.