CCS back as Over-all champs in the 13th Milo Little Olympics

ENJOYING a balanced contribution from its athletes in practically all fronts of battle, Corpus Christi School of Cagayan de Oro is back as overall champions in both elementary and secondary levels of the 13th Milo Little Olympics Mindanao.

The three-day meet which drew over 100 school entries from all over Mindanao and concluded here last Sunday at Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center saw an almost sweeping domination by the Macasandig-based institution in chess and badminton events en route to wresting back the supremacy in both categories it last held in 2007.

"We used to dominate in secondary action of the Milo Little Olympics. In fact, ika-fourth year na karon nga overall champion among high school," said Ching Obenza, Corpus Christi's sports coordinator for elementary level.

"Pero karon lang nabalik since 2007 nga nag-overall `mi sa duha. We got fat points in chess and badminton in both elementary and secondary divisions, though halos tanan gyod nga events naka-contribute og balanse nga mga puntos for this victory," the school's overall sports coordinator, Eric Miguel told Sun.Star.

There's a sting of madness, however, for every success story. Table tennis star Ian Nietes Lariba and chess whiz Lennon Hart Salgados, arguably two of Corpus Christi's most prominent athletes, failed to return this year among the bunch of so-called Most Outstanding Athletes.

The 16-year-old Salgados, silver medalist in 2009 ASEAN age-group tourney in Vietnam -- who is seeking another championship in Shell Active Grand Finals in Manila this coming October -- even failed to lead the CCS secondary boys to a title-repeat, owing to a final-round setback at the hands of MOGCHS.

"It's quite puzzling to note but things like this are just but normal in a competitive yet exciting and surprising world that is sports. In the case of Ian Lariba, she's simply a cut above the rest. Ang MVP man gud sa badminton ituyok-tuyok lang para daghan malipay," was Miguel's simple explanation.

The top school performers and individual achievers in the 12-sport competition that will have a national championship for the first time in Cebu on October 23-25 will be feted on Sunday's awarding ceremony (10 a.m.) at the Limketkai's Rotunda.

Dr. Alfonso del Fierro Jr., school director of "Home of Champions" Corpus Christi, will lead in sharing words of acceptance from the winning schools before the athletes, coaches, school officials and invited dignitaries that include Pat Goc-ong, AVP-Milo Sports Events Executive, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno and Dep-Ed Regional Director Estrella Abid Babano, among others.

Source: Sunstar Cagayan de Oro