NCR reigns Palarong Pambansa

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – As expected, it was another domination by the National Capital Region (NCR) in the annual Palarong Pambansa.

The big city once again copped the overall championship of the biggest regional school-based sports meet in the country.

NCR amassed a total of 733 points after seven days of competition in 17 sports, dominating medal-rich events like swimming, gymnastics, athletics and most of the ball games to win another overall title in the games.

Westen Visayas ranked second with 452 points followed by Calabarzon (335), Central Visayas (305.17), Northern Mindanao (170.5), Central Luzon (157), Cotabato Region (125.17), Mimaropa (117.17), Ilocos Region (97.01) and Davao Region (96.5).

NCR leaned on its 41-gold medal haul in swimming led by Axel Toni Ngui, who ended up with the biggest gold medal collection here with seven.

It also cornered 16 golds in athletics, second to Western Visayas which pocketed 25, and swept the artistic and rhythmic gymnastics both in elementary and secondary divisions.

NCR capped the final day of the competition with a sweep of the secondary basketball and volleyball events.

The NCR high school cagers demolished Calabarzon 96-77, while their elementary counterpart edged Calabarzon, 97-90, in the finals. Western Visayas foiled an NCR sweep in the basketball event after beating the Big City’ lady cagers, 84-74, in the finals.

NCR also ruled the secondary girls and boys volleyball.

The secondary girls dethroned Western Visayas, 25-16, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17, while the high school boys beat Central Visayas, 24-26, 25-20, 14-25, 25-17, 14-12, in a thrilling but controversial ending.

Central Visayas thought they got the raw end of the call in the final set with NCR holding a 13-12 lead. The referee called a checked ball when the ball went outside.

Supporters of Central Visayas stormed the court in protest and will ask Department of Education to review the match.

The next Palarong Pambansa will be played in Visayas with the bidding expected to start next month (Courtesy of TV-5).