Misamis Oriental is now ready for hosting

IT'S all systems go for the province of Misamis Oriental's hosting of the 2nd Milo Little Olympics National Finals on Oct. 15-17 at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.


"There's no turning back," said the event's Mindanao area organizer Megdonio Llamera who is now busy preparing MOGCHS, among the local school delegates, for a colorful opening presentation.

Likewise, the governor urged the national organizer to provide a specialized football goal so that the well-maintained Pelaez Sports Center ground be used--for the first time--since it undergone a major repair, even turning its dusty oval into a rubberized one.


Llamera said that about 7,000 outstanding school-based athletes nationwide will see action in the three-day meet, featuring over a dozen sports disciplines such as swimming, athletics, chess, badminton, football, gymnastics, tennis, taekwondo, scrabble, sepak takraw, table tennis and volleyball.

Sun Star Cagayan de Oro

Cebu Football - STC girls rule football

But the story in the final weekend belongs to the STC girls football team, who was the epitome of what support from the parents, teachers and administration can do to a team.

STC won, 2-1, in extra time over Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, a school with a strong football background.

Awesome STC

“After three tries, we finally won. This is nothing short of awesome,” said Aiko Manaloto, who scored the game’s winning goal. “This year has been great because we now have the support of the sisters.”

STC, ran by the ICM sisters, is known to be protective of its girls.

It had been hesitant in allowing their kids to play in a rough sport but was persuaded by the parents.

“The support of the parents and the girls’ determination convinced the school to allow them to play,” said teacher Ella Rose Averilla.

Lou Ann Empenado, one of the parents of the team, said, “We are very proud of them. These girls have worked hard for this. Considering they have not practiced even once this week because of the exams and unlike their opponents, they practice in a small, uneven field, so for them to win is very impressive.”

Three years ago, a team of football players from STC forced themselves to play despite hesitation from the school. They trained by themselves and even brought their own uniforms. They finished with a bronze medal right away. And things took a huge turn this year.


Sun Star Cebu

Cebu Football - CES vs. Springdale in finals

By Iste S. Leopoldo

CANDUMAN Elementary School (CES) will face Paref-Springdale for the elementary football title this Saturday in the 15th Milo little Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Canduman survived a scary end game against City Central School to win via penalty shootout, 3-1, while Springdale defeated Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion-Mandaue, 12-3.

City Central School almost got the go-ahead run against Canduman but the spunky CES keeper managed to pluck the ball from the striker as he was about to shoot from the goalmouth.

In the secondary level, defending national champion Abellana National High School will face Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu in the semifinal round this Saturday.

Abellana defeated Looc National High School, 4-0, while SHS-Ateneo won against Center for International Education via forfeit.

ANS coach Francis Ramirez said he hopes that they can reach the final round despite fielding mostly newcomers.

“I am confident with my new players especially with Rogelio Castellon, who is a former Philippine team player,” Ramirez said.

Castellon scored three goals to lift the team to the semifinals while Johnrey Nieves contributed one goal.

The other teams who also made it to the semifinals are Don Bosco College, which blanked University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 9-0, and Springdale, an 8-1 winner against Bright Academy.

In the secondary girls division, St. Theresa’s College will face SHS-Ateneo for the title.

The Sacred Heart School-Hijas will face Cebu City National Science High School in the battle for third.

Sun Star Cebu

Cebu Football - Milo Little Olympics

In football, the Abellana National School (ANS) girls football team fell in its debut against the Cebu City National Science High School (CCNSHS), 0-1.

Other results saw Lo-ok National High School routing the Mandaue Technical Institute (MTI), 2-0; Cebu for International Education (CIE) beat USC, 2-1; Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu (SHS-A) whipped CCNSHS, 10-0, and Don Bosco College (DBC) routed Colegio Dela Imnaculada Concepcion-Mandaue (CIC-M), 19-0.

Cebu Cherish School beat Saint Joseph Mactan, 9-1, in the elementary boys division, Canduman Elementary School outclassed USC, 18-0 and CIC-M scored a 13-0 win against Sage Prep School. SHS-A’s girls football squad also logged a 12-0 win over CIE.

Cebu Daily News

Cebu Football - ANS aims for title defense in Milo Olympics

By Edri K. Aznar

THE first National Milo Little Olympics secondary division football champion, Abellana National School (ANS), is geared up for a repeat of its championship run despite having a different lineup.

Although most of its key players have left the championship team, ANS head coach Francis Ramirez is still optimistic his squad will defend its title, starting with the 15th Milo Little Olympics – Visayas this Saturday at the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC).

“Our preparations are ongoing and we are adjusting to the seven-a-side format.

Hopefully we will be able to defend our crown in the Visayas and the nationals,” said Ramirez.

Majority of the team’s top players, which includes ace striker and team captain Carlito Abadia, are not coming back this year because they are no longer eligible to play.

New lineup

“Only five players are left from last year’s team,” Ramirez said.

Despite the major alteration in ANS’s roster, Ramirez is still confident they will be as equally competitive as last year because the new players are familiar with the team’s system.

The players from ANS’s 14-Under squad, who also acted as the main team’s practice players last year, filled the void left by Abadia and company.

“The good thing is that we still have veterans left who can man the team,” said Ramirez.

ANS beat Paref-Springdale, 3-1, in the final match of the Visayas finals behind the heroics of Abadia, who scored the final two goals.

ANS went on to win the national Milo Little Olympics title in dominating fashion, beating Mindanao, 6-0, in October.

A total of 15 teams will be competing for the secondary division title of the Visayas leg of the 15th Milo Little Olympics. The winner will represent Visayas in the national tournament.

Ramirez thinks their biggest threat for the title will be Springdale. “Because they get better every year,” Ramirez said.

“Don Bosco is also there because they are the same team that won the Palarong Pamabansa. Sacred Heart is also good and we also have to watch out for the out-of-town team, Siliman, which has a striker who played for the national team.”

The 15th Milo Little Olympics —Visayas will have a press conference and launching, which will be attended by Vice Mayor Joy Young, Nestle Philippines Inc. top executive Pat Goc-ong, organizer Ricky Ballesteros and tournament manager Dr. Danilo Villadolid, today at the CCSC.

Sun Star Cebu

Mindanao Milo Little Olympics

MINDANAO'S most awaited event for school-based athletes in elementary and secondary levels will be held again in Cagayan de Oro City.

Now on its 14th year, the Milo Little Olympics will be played at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports and other viable playing venues in the city from July 30 to August 1.

Deadline for registration in the regional level is set on July 26. This way, Llamera said the secretariat and screening committees will find enough time to evaluate those qualified only to compete in Milo's 12 sporting events namely swimming, athletics, badminton, chess, FOOTBALL , gymnastics, lawn tennis, scrabble, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

"It has been agreed to select instead the most outstanding athletes during the conduct of the 2nd National Milo Little Olympics on Oct. 13 to 17 of this year," revealed Llamera.

Interested schools may secure the registration form and inquire for other details at the Milo Secretariat which holds office at Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center through telephone number (08822) 727289. (LLS/With UCQ reports)

Sun Star Cagayan de Oro

Milo Little Olympics - ANS comeback kids top high school football

LAST year, the Abellana National School football players were on the outside looking in, barred from joining the Milo Little Olympics.
During the awarding ceremony for football yesterday, all eyes were on them—the champions of the first Milo Little Olympics national finals.

ANS completed a sweep of its games with a workmanlike 6-0 win over Mindanao yesterday to bag the gold medal in secondary football and earn the 30 championship points for the Visayas.
They finished with nine points on three wins, while Mindanao settled for the silver with four on a win and a draw.
Luzon took third place with two points after a draw with NCR in the final game yesterday.
“The boys were really hungry to win the title because last year they were not able to join,” said ANS coach Francis Ramirez. “We got lucky because now that we got to play again, Milo decided to hold a national finals.”
In the first half against Mindanao, that hunger was missing and ANS looked more like they were on a practice match than in a title-clincher.
Mindanao even had the first clear chance after a striker was left inside the box before the defense clamped on him.
First chance
Carlito Abadia Jr. had the first clear shot for ANS but missed three shots inside 15 minutes, while Karlo Cuizon also misfired a lob.
Things got heated in the 18th when a Mindanao striker went down away from the ball--due to a punch according to their camp or due to an unintentional collision while both were running to the open space, according to others.
Referee Vincent Ramos booked Prince Anthony, who protested his innocence, for a yellow card to help cut the tension.
ANS finally got on board in the 29th with James Bacus’ point- blank shot and cranked up their offense in the second.
Abadia’s struck just 40 seconds into the second half off a give-and-go, while Jose Bacunawa, who relieved Abadia in the 40th minute, got in the scoring act in the 43rd. Rafael Estremos made it 4-0 two minutes later.
A change of keepers didn’t stop the binge for Mindanao—Alger Montayre made it 5-0 and Bacunawa scored on a cheeky lob in the last three minutes.
ANS’ victory somehow offset the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit’s loss in the elementary division.
“We were in control for most of the match but our defense failed to mark their men in the final minutes,” said SHS-J coach Lito Ramos.
Isagani Fernandez put the host ahead in the 20th before Jan Frederick Cujogan equalized in the 40th.
In the shootout, SHS-J split its first two shots, while Luzon converted two for its third win and the gold medal.
Visayas settled for the silver on two wins and a loss, while NCR got the bronze with one win.

Sun Star Cebu

Milo Olympics - Secondary level

In the secondary level, Francis Ramirez’ boys also got off a flying start, beating Luzon, 2-0.
In tennis, the elementary teams had mixed fortunes in the first day at the Casino Español courts. The girls team lost to Mindanao, 2-0, while the boys were barely challenged in their 2-0 win against Luzon.
Tennis follows the Davis Cup format with a singles and doubles match. A second singles only to break a tie.
Bright Academy’s Jana Pages dropped her first singles match to Khim Iglupas, 8-5. Pages teamed up with Stephanie Kim in doubles and managed to give a fight before losing a close, 8-7 (5).
Pages and Kim had it easy in their second match against NCR and were barely challenged as they fought back into contention for their first win.
After a 1-1 score, Pages broke Cheska Mae Columbrillo three straight times for an easy 8-2 win.
In doubles, Pages and Kim were barely challenged as they won the first six games—including two at 40-love—for their 8-1 win.
Pages and Kim will face Luzon—which also lost to Mindanao—today.
In the boys division Jan Godfrey Seno gave up only one game in his 8-1 win, while Arthur Pantino and Gener Lambayan played flawlessly for an 8-0 win over Beltran and John Tabuca to start their campaign on a strong note.

Sun Star Davao

Visayas eyes elementary football title

JEREMIAH Fernandez helped Visayas stay undefeated in elementary football in the Milo Olympics national finals at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.
Visayas, represented by the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit, defeated NCR, 3-0, and Mindanao, 3-2.
After a scoreless first half Visayas silenced the jeering NCR camp with two goals in the first six minutes of the second.
Mark Veloso sped past the defense in a breakaway before Fernandez showed his deft touch for a 2-0 count in the 32nd , controlling a cross with his right foot before blasting it with his left.
Oliver Booth got into the scoring act with a similar move, shooting just outside the penalty box a minute from time.
Fernandez again saved Visayas in the second game, spoiling a 2-2 draw with a last gasp goal for their 3-2 win.
Today Visayas, which has six points, will gun for the title against Luzon, which won against Mindanao, 2-0.

Sun Star Cebu