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.

Anton clinches Hill climb title anew

CARLOS Anton clocked an impressive 1:28.15 for the best time in the fourth leg of the Philippine Hill Climb series in the uphill roads of Pias in San Fernando City, La Union.

The multi titled Castrol–Yokohama-backed driver led the field in the mountain race to virtually wrap up the 2011 season with a bang driving his 222 horsepower CRX fitted with Yokohama A050 rubber.

Does Gloria Arroyo deserve to be placed under house arrest? Cast your vote.

“They tightened the course with pylons for safety today so it was a bit tricky but the team is very happy to win the title for 2011,” Anton said after his run.

Anton’s Castrol-Hornitex team mate Alfie Concepcion got his revenge and finally clinched the group 4 (185-220 horsepower division) crown for 2011.

Concepcion missed the title last year after blowing a healthy lead during the final leg due to a timing belt failure but still managed to clock 1:32.10 up the hill with his Special Stage prepared Civic to take the title and win in group 4 for the day.

Yokohama-Hornitex drivers Dennis Aoyong and Frankie Domingo finished 2nd overall in Group 5 and Group 2, respectively.

Aoyong played his role perfectly in providing a points buffer for Anton in the highest division, while Domingo, last year’s Group 2 champion, was happy to still finish 2nd after his zero points finish during round two of the championship.

Jimson Balmeo won the group three championship after dominating every race while Edmund Dupo got his first national group 2 title in spite of a minor accident in heat 1.

Pancake Pimentel, BJ Frondoso, and Ecko Adan won the championships in Group 1, Group S and Historic Class, respectively.

The 2012 HillClimb Championship will be held in the mountains of Rizal, Samat and La Union starting March.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 25, 2011.

Veterans dominate grappling tilt

A BUNCH of veterans continue to dominate as the 8th Grapplers Cup lured some 80 fighters from all over northern Luzon held recently at the People’s Park and organized by Team Lakay.

Gina Iniong led the awardees after winning the gold medal in the female seniors 51-57 weight class by edging upcoming Jane Christine Padul who settled for silver, while Tecthie Assudo salvaged bronze in the event supported by the City Government of Baguio.

In the male side, Jeffrey Doligas bagged the gold medal in the 50 kilograms (kgs) and below as Paul John Edralaga settled for silver, while Crispin Logawe defeated Biondi Dayangadang for the gold medal in the 51-57 kgs event with Doman Saguipil and Clifford Panas taking home the bronze medal.

Harold Banario won the gold in the 58-64 kgs event as Leonard Yap settled for silver with Tristan Rebucayo and Jervees Herrera went home with the bronze in the event also backed by FRB Foundation and the University of the Cordilleras.

Troy Bantiag took home the gold in the 64–71 kgs division with James Maquiwe settling for silver as Noel Sumingwa and Oathmar Guillan salvaging the bronze.

In the juniors division, Taro Barrientos won the gold over John Noel Astudillo as Jon Olivar settled for the bronze in the 50 kgs and below.

Mark Stephen Loman was the gold medalist in the 51-57 kgs as Joshua Pacio and Jhaymie Gayman in the 51-57 kgs, while Jean Claude Saclag took the gold in the 58-64 kgs as Giovhann Bautista bagged silver.

Jan Jan Servo won the gold in the kids division while John Ira Barrientos settled for silver.

The tournament is also Team Lakay's way of discovering talents who could possibly fit in mix martial arts where the team is currently the number one in the local Universal Reality Combat Championship where they hold at least four weight division belts.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 26, 2011.

Kalinga prepares for Caraa 2012 hosting

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - The province is ready to host the 2012 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) sports fest sometime in February next year.

This early, committees were organized to prepare for the regional event, which was bided by the province of Abra but later rejected it.

Governor Jocel Baac during the regular Kapehan held at the Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative accepted hosting the Caraa since he said this will redound to the benefit of Kalinga.

He said sending a delegation to other provinces is expensive. “Delegates will not also be traveling from their quarters going to the sports venue if held in other provinces,” Baac said, adding the greater advantage of hosting it is that our facilities are centralized and proximity of quarters for delegates to sports venues are also for their convenience.

During the meeting, the Provincial Engineering Office was directed to start preparing the sports ground. Other agencies and offices were organized into committees to help during the preparation.

It was agreed that the Caraa will be simultaneously held during the celebration of Kalinga day and Ullalim festival to draw more visitors.

“What we spend will yield high return of investment since tourism will be promoted and money inflow is guaranteed because visitors will spend here,” Baac said of the economic advantage of hosting the Caraa.

More than a thousand delegates from Baguio City and the provinces of Apayao, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province are expected to join in the annual regional athletic meet. (Peter A. Balocnit)

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 24, 2011.