ILOILO CITY --Region 1 (Ilocos) and  Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) swept the first two gold medals at stake in  the centerpiece event of  athletics as action in the 2012 National SCUAA (State Colleges and  Universities Athletic Association) Olympics  went full blast at the lloilo Sports Complex here Tuesday.

Fatima Mitra of Region 1 made her presence felt  by winning the gold medal in  women’s shot put.

Another Region 1 bet, Herna Barbra Rigucera, bagged the silver medal, while  Juliet Joy Demayo of  Region 6 (Western Visayas) pocketed the bronze medal.

In  women’s high jump,  Carla  Batang of   Region 2  defeated  Sharie  Gaylan  of  Region 12  (SOCCSKSARGEN)  and Kristal Gay Mariano of National Capital Region to capture the gold  medal.

In  the  women’s 200m,  Thesa  Nicole Adenix of Region 6  (Western Visayas)  topped the first heat  while Katrine Cacho of NCR dominated the second heat.

Topping their   respective heats in the men’s 200m are Jeric Pangan of Region IV (CALABARZON),  Nesty Consono of Region 6 (Western Visayas), Jay Lawrence Jaranilla of   NCR and  Christopher Rey Demata of NCR.

In   men’s volleyball,  Region 5  (Bicol) battled back from two sets down to pull the rug from under  Region 2 (Cagayan Valley),  21-25, 13-25,  25-19, 27-25, 19-17.

Equally impressive were Autonomous  Region in Muslim Mindanao   (ARMM), which subdued Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR),  23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19; and  Region 7 (Central  Visayas), which downed Region 1 (Ilocos),  25-12, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23.

In  football,  Region  10 (Northern  Mindanao)  defeated Region 5 (Bicol) , 7-2, to gain the early lead with  Region 1 (Ilocos) and Region 4   (CALABARZON)..

Region 1 blanked Region 2, 3-0, and Region 4 whitewashed Region 7, 3-0.

In basketball, Region 8  (Eastern Visayas) won by forfeiture over ARMM.

Region 6 (Western Visayas) dumped Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 90-53;  Region 4  (CALABARZON) blasted Region 8  (Eastern Visayas),  59-35; and Region 3  (Central Luzon) crushed Region 11 (Davao),  70-23,  in women’s basketball.

In  women’s lawn tennis,  NCR defeated Region 8 (CARAGA), 2-0.

Other  women’s lawn tennis winners were Region 2 (Cagayan), which  beat Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN),  2-1; ARMM, which nipped Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 2-0;  Region 3 (Central  Luzon), which humbled  CAR, 2-0;  Region 4 (CALABARZON), which nipped Region 1 (Ilocos), 2-0;   Region 5 (Bicol), which stopped CAR, 2-1; Region 6 (Western Visayas), which  edged Region 7 (Central Visayas), 2-1’ and Region 10 (Northern  Mindanao), which outclassed CARAGA, 2-0.

Meanwhile, the  organizing committee of  the Search for “Mr. and  Ms. SCUAA” announced the  official candidates:

Ms. SCUAA -- Maybelle Pameroyan (Region 1), Mary Jane Verdillo (Region 2), Jamella Cruz (Region 4),  Amandeep Kaur Singh (Region 5), Ariane Gabriela (Region 6), Chantely Kae Gonzales (Region 7), Dionessa Bustamante (Region 8), Marie Antoinette Barrera (Region 9), Lovely Jane Estampa (Region 10), Jovel Viberly Juano (Region 11), Mary Angelie Cadiz (Region 12), Definie Pakelman (CAR), and Tresha Marie Dadea (NCR).

Mr. SCUAA  -- Prince Reginald Estores (Region I), Darylle Francis Salvador (Region 3), John Alexander Russel (Region 4), Christian Dan Morada (Region 5), Ronel Kay Juperatum (Region 6), Jeffrey Laranjo (Region 7), Raymond Tabad (Region 9), Jay Michael Calipusan (Region 10), Glendell Jadraque (Region 11), Mark Al-Jamie Muttulani (Region 12), Noel Ogano (CAR), and Eigiee Edison Magdangal (NCR).

The coronation night was being held at presstime  at the West Visayas State University in La Paz.