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Prestigious interschool tourney inspires almost 20,000 athletes nationwide
Cagayan De Oro, Philippines – The 2016 MILO Little Olympics recently concluded its last regional leg in Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro city, which officially marked the closing of its 29th season. Almost 20,000 student athletes from across the country took their shot in bringing home the coveted honors from their respective home courts in North and Central Luzon, NCR and South Luzon, Visayas and in Mindanao.
The prestigious interschool competition saw many newcomers and returning champions on the podium stages, such as Abellana National High School of Visayas, Mandaluyong Elementary School of NCR-South Luzon, and University of Baguio-LES of North and Central Luzon. The promising athletes battled out for greatness and showed their athletic mettle in 15 different sports events including Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Gymnastics, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo and Volleyball, Chess, Sepak Takraw, Scrabble, Karatedo and Arnis.
Tangub City CS and Corpus Christi triumphant in Mindanao
The usual third placer Tangub City CS finally had a taste of victory in this year’s Mindanao elementary division games. Earning the biggest points in girls’ Athletics and boys’ Swimming, Tangub City CS took the highest bid of the games with 72 points. Ateneo De Davao, who got the highest scores in Football and girls’ Swimming, snitched the second spot with 63 points. Last year’s sixth placer Koronadal Southern Elementary School managed to propel onto the third place with 63 points after leading the Badminton and Tennis events.
Corpus Christi School was able to defend their reign as champion in the secondary division. The regional bet bared a ferocious feat against its competitors and copped the biggest scores in many sport events such as girls’ Arnis, girls’ Badminton, Football, Gymnastics and Boys’ Tennis which helped them earn 139 points. Zamboanga del Sur Sports Academy who excelled in Athletics and Basketball snatched second place with 117 points, while Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School ranked third with 89.5 points.
University of San Carlos nabs overall supremacy in Visayas leg
Tournament favorite University of San Carlos made a colossal feat by bagging the top ranks of both elementary and secondary divisions of the Visayas competition. The USC Baby Warriors of the elementary division made a clean sweep against second placer University of the Visayas, helming a 30-point difference against the latter with scores of 111.6 and 82 points respectively. Sacred Heart School –Ateneo De Cebu (SHS-ADC) finished third with 80 points.
Relegating its fiercest opponent and last year’s victor SHS-ADC Magis Eagles to the third spot (100 points), the University of San Carlos shined once again in the secondary division, scoring a total of 170.75 points. Newcomer Abellana National High School-Cebu City finally bolstered to the top squad, ranking second with 116.25 points.
Held in the Queen City of the South, the Visayas leg brought 5,000 student athletes. In the opening ceremony which preceded the three-day sporting event, 2016 Olympic runner Mary Joy Tabal came to inspire the young athletes and led the lighting of the torch.
North and Central Luzon Leg’s BCNHS reap biggest score of the season
University of Baguio showed muscle in Taekwondo and Arnis which aided them in climbing onto the top spot of the elementary division with 58 points. Young athletes from Elpidio Quirino Elementary School were only six points short to claim the title, scoring a total of 52 points as the second placer. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University tied with St. Paul College of Ilocos in the third place – each amassing a score of 48 points.
The still undefeatable Baguio Central National High School (BCNHS) of the secondary division put up a thrilling display of physical prowess in Athletics which helped them garner the highest score of the season with 178 points. The champion’s closest rival, University of Baguio, tried its best to steal the bid from BCHS by ranking first in Chess and Taekwondo, but was only able to finish second with 130 points. Sitting comfortably for the second time on the third spot is Holy Angel University (109.5 points) that rallied best in boys’ Table Tennis.
Mandaluyong Elementary School, San Beda College-Rizal score big in NCR-South Luzon Leg
Returning the top ranks after two seasons was Mandaluyong Elementary School. The elementary division champion of NCR-South Luzon Games showed their authority in Table Tennis and Volleyball, putting them in first place with 57 points. King’s Montessori used their basketball abilities to good use which helped them place second with a score of 50 points. Concepcion Elementary School showed no signs of defeat and took their biggest chance in Volleyball that set them into the third place with 45 points.
Collecting its third trophy in the secondary division game was crowd bet San Beda College-Rizal. Trumping its competitors in Boys Athletics and Boys Swimming, San Beda Red Lions garnered a total of 114.5 points – a near 10-point lead against the second placer Nazareth School of National University that scored 95 points. Far Eastern University-Diliman landed to its former place in the third spot with a score of 75 points.
In the opening ceremonies, Philippines’ first woman Table Tennis Olympian and Philippine flag bearer Ian Lariba graced the event as the guest of honor. Lariba, who is also a graduate and an awardee of the Most Outstanding Athlete of the MILO Little Olympics, shared inspiring words to the young contingents and led the lighting of torch.
With the conclusion of the regional tournaments, MILO Sports Executive Robbie de Vera expressed his appreciation to everyone who took part in the nationwide sporting event. “We congratulate all the parents, coaches, school administrators and organizers for your invaluable efforts in making this year’s MILO Little Olympics a success,” he said. “The MILO Little Olympics has long been an avenue for hardworking athletes to flourish into inspiring individuals who excel not only in sports, but also in life. We are honoured to have witnessed our young delegates’ awe-inspiring talents and we look forward to their successes in the years to come.”
For more information on MILO Philippines, log on to the official website (http://www.milo.com.ph) or the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph). Follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).
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About MILO
The MILO brand is the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage that can be prepared with hot or cold milk or water. Given its popularity it is a “must have” product for food service operators particularly in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
MILO also promotes participation in sports through its Summer Sports Clinics, MILO-B.E.S.T. Center Training Program, MILO Marathon, and MILO Little Olympics. The leading beverage brand believes that these contribute to the holistic development of Filipino champions in sports and in life. 2014 marks MILO’s 50th year in the country.
About Nestle Philippines
Over a hundred years after it first started operations in the country, Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable organization, proud of its role in bringing the best food and beverage throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs more than 3,200 men and women nationwide, and is now among the country’s Top 10 Corporations.
Driven by its mission to nurture generations of Filipino families, Nestle today produces and markets products under some of the country’s well known brands such as NESCAFE, NIDO, MILO, NESTEA, MAGGI, BEAR BRAND, NESTLE and PURINA, among others. Its product range has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery and pet care.