IBAJAY, Aklan – Negros Occidental elementary boys basketball team clinched the gold medal in 2023 WVRAA Meet by taking down powerhouse Iloilo in the finals over the weekend at the Maloco Covered Court here.
James Carlo Ramos, Nilus Robert Calma, Gian Kyle Tan and Ashton Jared Buñol were at the forefront of offense for the Bacolod Tay Tung High School-represented Negros Occidental to capture the gold.
The Ryan Nabor-mentored Negros Occidental cager swept their elimination round matches against Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Capiz to reach the championship round with a twice-to-beat incentive.
But the Negrense cagers only needed a game to clinch the gold medal and move on to the Cluster Meet, where they will face the representatives from Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Sibugay.
The top-two finishers in the said cluster meet tentatively scheduled for July will then advance to the 2023 Palarong Pambansa proper, which is slated in Marikina City from July 29 to August 5, 2023.
Also part of the Negros Occidental team were Francis Luis Alcoran, Ronald Delada, Joseph Magbanua, Zachary Cuansing, Chase Liam Verba, Kevin Joseph Babor, Tristan Randall and Acster Ken Panisales.
Negros Occidental, represented by Sagay City, also emerged as the victor in the secondary girls basketball following a lopsided 92-34 victory over Iloilo at the Ibajay Covered Court.
The Negros squad is composed of Grachele Boteros, Athena Bretania, Barby Jean Bajao, Arabella Garcia, Marnel Hofilena, Shakira Jaranilla, Jhalil Monserate, Clerence Onate, Jamaica Pesquera, Jayna Turtogo, Cheal Veraye and Ariane Yap.
In Softball, Negros Occidental captured the elementary and secondary girls championship following victories over Iloilo squad in the finals at the Malinao Elementary School Ground in Malinao town.
In Baseball, Team Iloilo swept the championship in secondary boys division (defeated Negros Occidental) and elementary division (against Aklan) in the matches held at Numancia National School of Fisheries./PN
