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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Pangasinan breaks Ilocos Norte's record

LINGAYEN -- Students from Pangasinan schools defeated those from Ilocos Norte, breaking the latter's 11th consecutive winning streak in Region 1's Athletic Association (R1-AA) meet.

Pangasinan II Schools Division denied Ilocos Norte Schools Division's dream of bringing home the 12th championship title.

Pangasinan II, this year's R1-AA host division, earned a total of 505.5 points to clench the number one position in the overall ranking as against the 490.5 points earned by Ilocos Norte in the just concluded sports contest sponsored by the Department of Education. Pangasinan I Schools Division placed third with 476 total points.

The awarding ceremony was held Saturday afternoon at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) here. The awarding of medals and trophies was led by Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr., Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., and Department of Education (DepEd)-Ilocos Director Ligaya Soledad Miguel.

Pangasinan scored the first victory during the opening ceremony last Monday.

In his speech, Governor Amado Espino Jr. made a request to DepEd Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Alberto Muyot, who was then the guest of honor and speaker, that the old name of the regional meet (Ilocos Region Athletic Association or IRAA Meet) be changed to Region 1 Athletic Association (R1-AA) Meet.

Espino reasoned that the words Ilocos Region refers more to the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte with the provinces of La Union and Pangasinan left behind.

Muyot granted to the governor's request right then and there.

Pangasinan II later earned the points that sealed their victory in the championship round of some team events held Saturday morning.

The final over-all ranking was released by the technical committee before noontime Saturday. The report was signed by Regional Sports Task Force Chair Bartolome Teneza, Clerk of Course Chairmen Jun Howard Rioveros and Ramon Caniezo, as well as, the representatives from the 14 schools divisions in Region 1.

La Union placed fourth with 308.75 total points, followed by Laoag City (195.25 points), Alaminos City (130.25 points), Dagupan City (121.5 points), San Carlos City (102.75 points), Urdaneta City (99 points), San Fernando City (91 points), Ilocos Sur (82 points), Candon City (70 points), Batac City (62.5 points), and Vigan City (45 points).

Meanwhile, in the ranking in the elementary division, Pangasinan II secured 231.5 total points, Ilocos Norte got 213 points, while Pangasinan 1 earned 188.5 points. In the secondary level, Pangasinan 1 scored 287.5 total points, Ilocos Norte recorted 277.5 points while Pangasinan II earned 272 points.

In an interview after the final results were released, Pangasinan II Schools Division Superintendent Viraluz Raguindin thanked all their athletes, the trainors and coaches for their hard work, as well as the parents of the athletes for their all-out support for their children.

"I can't describe how I feel right now, excited and very happy after all the agony for the whole week," Raguindin said.

She admitted that she was not confident Pangasinan II would win and dislodge Ilocos Norte from the pedestal it held for 11 years.

"Only when I saw the official over-all standing did I believe na kami na an gang champion," she said, adding the secret behind their victory was the full support given by Governor Espino.

The governor actually requested from her early on that the NRSCC be the venue of R1-AA as the municipality will be bannering the province of Pangasinan anyway.

Pangasinan II covers Eastern Pangasinan or districts four, five, and six except Urdaneta City.

The Provincial Government also assisted in the preparation of the venue and, in some ways, in the training of the athletes from the schools division of Pangasinan I, II, San Carlos City and Urdaneta City. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan...-record-145824
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