Sports: WV Athletes Now Playing in Manila Colleges, Universities

Western Visayas athletes are now enjoying their stay in Manila colleges and universities as athletic scholars at the opening of the school year.

Negrense athletes were on the bulk of barging into the Big City universities enjoying among them the chances of donning their new teams and replacing those who have already graduated, in preparation of the more prestigious competition in Manila, the University’s Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The most sought players were from the softball team of Domingo Lacson National High School, the many times Palarong Pambansa champion and World Series veterans. The bulk of them, however were pirated by University of Sto. Tomas who enlisted Nancy Benjamen, Arlyn Arreglado and Judy Almonia.

Some of them, of course, were taken in by Shermaine Garcia was taken in by Rizal Technological University , as some of them goes to Adamson University and the rest to Central Philippine university in Iloilo City.

Meanwhile, a few days following the opening of 2012 Palarong Pambansa in Lingayen, Pangasinan, scouts from college and universities in Manila were eyeing athletes from Western Visayas to be part of their varsity teams.

Some of them were lucky to have taken in some Western Visayas players and now part of their college varsity teams who enrolled this school year.

Camille Basa, a playmaker and team captain of Western Visayas secondary girl’s basketball from Pili National High School in Ajuy, Iloilo was taken in by Far Eastern University, along with Precious Arellado of Ajuy National High School for the UAAP. Basa was adjudged Most Valuable Player during the finals against the National Capital Region.

Two Negrense cagers were also tapped by top basketball teams in Metro Manila. Christine Marie Aliermo, the 6 foot 9 tall daughter of former Colegio San Agustin –Bacolod Eagles Bandoy Aliermo was signed in by National University, along with Trixie Antiquera of St. Joseph School- La Salle. Aliermo graduated salutatorian in her class.

Elena Camiring of Lapaz National High School in Iloilo was also recruited by Far Eastern University for its athletics squad in the UAAP. Camiring settled for silver medal in the secondary girl’s shot put with a throw of 9.78 meters behind Central Luzon Dianne De Jesus in 10.00 meters.

Richee Joy Cabanyog, of Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, the secondary boy’s shot put gold medalist was also offered with athletic scholarship along with Ilonggo runner Dexter Galos of San Dionisio, Iloilo after topping the secondary boy’s 5,000 meters in a dramatic win over Cordillera Administrative Region Arnold Galap on opening day of athletics event.

Jealyn Lancita, although she is still an incoming senior in Dumarao National High School in Capiz was also offered athletics scholarship this early. Lancita dominated the secondary girl’s 400 hurdles and placed second behind Central Visayas Neslee Angco in the 400 meters. The unidentified scouts claimed Lancita has potentials of becoming the future long distance runner for the country.

Other WV athletes being offered scholarship are Lorenzo Capajo, an orphan from Dingle National High School and Negrense Jun Montalbo.*