SANTA CRUZ, Philippines – Student-athletes garbed in their light blue and green Team Visayas jackets jumped for joy in celebration of their their overall championship title at the 7th Milo Little Olympics (MLO) National Finals.
Team Visayas accumulated a total of 577 points, beating the defending champion National Capital Region-South Luzon (NCR-SL) by a mere 2.5 points. NCR-SL finished with 574.5 points after two days of intense competition from October 24-25.
Mindanao finished third with 422 points while North Central Luzon (NCL) finished fourth with 316.5 points.
“This win is the sweetest because we won it on their turf," said Ricky Ballesteros, the head of delegation for Team Visayas, who had been chasing the title for the last 3 years.
The young athletes competed in 12 sports, including swimming, basketball, gymnastics, athletics, table tennis, football, chess, Scrabble, badminton, sepak takraw, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball.
Team Visayas had won the title 3 straight years from 2009 to 2011 to also bring home the perpetual trophy before they were dethroned by NCR in 2012. NCR went on to win the overall title for 3 consecutive years to wrestle the perpetual trophy last year.
This year, Team Visayas fielded the strongest team to the competition so far after getting reinforcements from Iloilo, Bohol, Dumaguete, Aklan, Capiz, Rojas, Guimaras and Antique. This was made possible when the Visayas regional finals was held in Iloilo for the first time since the event's inception. Previously, it had always been hosted by Cebu City.
Since 1988, the MLO has given the kids in the elementary and secondary level the opportunity to excel in their respective sports and compete with delegates from around the Philippines. It's also a venue to meet and build relationships with other athletes from different backgrounds.
The glory and the heartbreak of the 2015 National MILO Little Olympics can be seen in these photos.
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<div id="owl-demo" class="owl-carousel"><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/25220BD8B3774104AEFB1D69CA817DA1/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-001_25220BD8B3774104AEFB1D69CA817DA1.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> NCR-SL's Jonathan Pulido (00715) clinches gold in the 3,000m. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/FEEF294FD1654F86A20A1F0416C8F430/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-002_FEEF294FD1654F86A20A1F0416C8F430.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Visayas' Mary Grace Pritos of the D.T. Durano Elementary School placed 6th in the shot put elementary girls after her throw of 6.11m. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/B69A2452609A4089BC155798DAB33C34/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-003_B69A2452609A4089BC155798DAB33C34.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Visayas' Seth Abram Pilapil (00694) of the University of San Carlos clinched gold in the 200m in the 7th Milo Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/2BCEF4A3694F4D9CA20560DD64D04F51/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-004_2BCEF4A3694F4D9CA20560DD64D04F51.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Secondary girls compete in the 3,000m. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/47F46685EE16446D82A826A06A53072D/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-005_47F46685EE16446D82A826A06A53072D.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> An athlete competes in the javelin throw secondary boys in the 7th Milo Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/3C6ADC35FCEF4D44A23311A79727339B/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-006_3C6ADC35FCEF4D44A23311A79727339B.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> North Central Luzon's Ferdinand Mabinat finished 5th in the javelin throw secondary boys after a throw of 42.71 meters. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/EEA600A6837B4DFF941DC161131B45C7/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-007_EEA600A6837B4DFF941DC161131B45C7.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Visayas' Morito Perez (693) of the Negros Oriental NHS on his way to gold in the 800m of the secondary boys in the 7th Milo Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/A7CFBB63D755487899ECFA85CAC6D08B/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-008_A7CFBB63D755487899ECFA85CAC6D08B.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> A gymnast competes in the rhythmic gymnastics using the ball apparatus in the 7th Milo Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/8B758BDA86F5444683CAB8DECABEAED3/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-009_8B758BDA86F5444683CAB8DECABEAED3.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> A gymnast competes in the rhythmic gymnastics using the ball apparatus in the 7th Milo Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/246FCEE3FDAB472BBE670E3D5A3D9BC7/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-010_246FCEE3FDAB472BBE670E3D5A3D9BC7.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Visayas' Eunice Odag of the University of the Visayas competes in the secondary rhythmic gymnastics using the ball apparatus in the 7th Milo Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/C5B0360666EB45009A3A7A103A8D6567/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-011_C5B0360666EB45009A3A7A103A8D6567.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Athletes go for the win in the Taekwondo competition. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/40E2282CDB554A26800F994EE860C9B0/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-012_40E2282CDB554A26800F994EE860C9B0.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> A goalkeeper tries to stop a shot in the football competition. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/FE5C98C1EA4B4E25B611BA0F34CDAD18/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-013_FE5C98C1EA4B4E25B611BA0F34CDAD18.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> Two footballers vie for the ball. </strong></div></div></div><div id="owl-content"><img src="http://assets.rappler.com/AFFB550714D74077BF78EBEB6B96A8B2/img/BD26F2B555BE46849FAB2885849A4E33/milo-7th-little-olympics-20151027-014_BD26F2B555BE46849FAB2885849A4E33.jpg" class="rappler_asset" border="0" /><div class="caption-slideshow"><div class="caption-item"><strong> A javelin thrower sets himself to throw at the MILO Little Olympics. </strong></div></div></div></div></div>
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Here are the official results for the 2015 National MILO Little Olympics
Overall Championship
VISAYAS - OVERALL CHAMPION
Elementary - 270.50 points
Secondary - 306.50 points
TOTAL 577 points
NCR-SL - 2ND PLACE
Elementary - 279 points
Secondary - 295.5 points
TOTAL 574.5 points
MINDANAO - 3RD PLACE
Elementary - 225.5 points
Secondary - 196.5 points
TOTAL 422 points
NCL - 4TH PLACE
Elementary - 167 points
Secondary - 149.50 points
TOTAL 316.5 points
Here is the list of the most outstanding athletes for the elementary and high school division:
A total of 42 athletes were honored with inclusion to the Most Outstanding Athletes (MOA) list, which earns each athlete P10,000 and a one year supply of MILO. Among those included were 18 athletes from the Visayas, 14 from NCR-SL, 9 from Mindanao and 1 from North Central Luzon.
Leading the honoraries for the Visayas athletes is tanker Raven Faith Alcoseba of Talisay City Science HS, who finished with 4 golds and 1 silver medal.
She is joined by Elvy Villagoniza of Iloilo National HS for athletics secondary girls; Ryan Doromal and Tricia Merced Opon, both of Southwestern University for badminton secondary boys and girls; and Gabriel Claridad of St. Roberto International School for elementary basketball.
Visayas athletes also swept the MOA for chess with Raniel Jay Perandos, Angel Naureen Bagano, Jeffu Dorog and Laila Nadera bringing home the accolade. All are from the University of San Carlos-Basic Education.
Completing the list are Lorenzo "Enzo" Ceniza, Paref Springdale skipper, for secondary football; John Speed Eslao and Viccel John Libradilla, both of the University of San Jose Recoletos, for elementary and secondary scrabble; Arielle Beronio of Valladolid Elementary School for taekwondo elementary girls; Sal Luiji Estrada of University of Cebu for taekwondo secondary boys; Mikee Rose Regala of St. Mary's Academy of Capiz for taekwondo secondary girls; Maxim Czarina Estay of Catmon Integrated School for volleyball elementary girls, and USJ-R's Llenos Canciano and Florans Camacho for secondary volleyball.
Those honored as most outstanding athletes from NCR-SL are Jerome Garcia, Alexandra Euste and Jonathan Pulido for athletics; Nestojan Tapales for badminton elementary boys; Louell Jay Gonzales for basketball secondary; Krystal Mae Maquidato and Jhazzelle Louise Limenzon for gymnastics; John Michael Rocha for sepak takraw elementary; Ted Jacob Laminta for swimming elementary boys; Rochmond Santos for swimming secondary boys; Mark Enrico Eludo for table tennis elementary boys; Jann Mari Nayre for table tennis secondary boys; Dawson Ormoc for tennis secondary boys and Jose Antonio Madrigal for volleyball elementary boys.
The rest of the MOA honorees are Mindanao's Maxene Olango (badminton elementary girls); Naz Rafele Angelo (football elementary); Jerhard Isaw (sepak takraw secondary); Aubrey Shelan Bermejo (swimming elementary girls); Princess Jan Draug (table tennis secondary girls); Aljon Bazar (taekwondo elementary boys); Nash Augustines, Farrah Kris Emata and Janelle Carmela Llavore for tennis; and the lone NCL most outstanding athlete, Abegail Reyes of Sta. Isabel Elementary School for table tennis elementary girls. – with reports from Mars Alison/Rappler.com