ILOILO CITY -- National Capital  Region made its presence felt in swimming, even as Region 4 (Southern Tagalog) and Region 6 (Western Visayas)  shared  the limelight  in  athletics in the 2012 National  SCUAA (State Colleges and  Universities Athletic Association)   Olympics at  the Iloilo Sports Complex.

Hazel Ecleo  completed a double  celebration for NCR when she clocked two minutes and 35.09 seconds in winning the women’s 200m  freestyle and timed 29.12  seconds in  ruling the women’s 50m freestyle.

Completing  the big day for NCR in the  pools  were Andrea Grace  Caballes, who bagged the gold medal in  the  women’s 400m individual medley with a time of six minutes and 40.63 seconds; Arlyn Almario, who topped the  women’s 100m    breaststroke with a time of  one minute and 32.72 seconds;  Joemar Evora, who dominated the men’s individual  medley with a  time of five minutes and 52.21 seconds.; and the  men’s and women’s 200m medley relay.

CARAGA  prevented an all-NCR show in the  pools when  Utie Cortes snatched the gold medals in the women’s 200M butterfly  and 100M  backstroke.

In athletics, Mary Jane Guevarra  of Region 4 captured the gold medal in the 100-m women with a  time of 12.52, edging out Thesa Nicole Adnix of Region 6 (12.59) and Lilibeth Dao-Asen of Region 4 ( 13.13).

Nesty Casono of Region 6  topped  the 100-m men with a time of 10.76 against Anthony Cabactulan of Region 4 (10.80)   and Kadyang Filmen of Region 3 ( 10.97).

Sharing the limelight were Bernardo Reyes  of Region 4 (800m/men), William Quiambao of Region 4 (3,000 m/men), Herbert Aldaya  of Region 6 (110 m hurdles/men), Alvin John Dionisio  of Region 3 ( 1,500m/men), Glendon Sandinao of Region 10 (5,000m/men), Maria Jennyfer Capuli of Region 3 (800 m/women),  Angele  Eunice Balatibat  of NCR (100 hurdles/women) and Stephanie Cadasale of  Region 6 ( 1,500m/women).

Region 4 also struck with three gold  medals in men’s karatedo courtesy of Bryan Manaro ( individual kata), Xavier Bautista ( 84 kgs) and  Billy Gallardo ( 5 kgs).

Also winning the gold medals in  men’s karatedo were Jesus Emmanuel Coyco of  NCR in men’s 55 kgs, Russel Manolo of Region 6 in 60 kgs, Vicente Canete  of Region 6 in  67 kgs, and Mark Dacillo of Region 9 in 75 kgs. 

In  women’s karatedo,  Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) bagged four of seven gold medals at stake.

Winning the golds for Region 9 were Mhel Catherine Bermudo (53 kgs),  Mersa Dari (55 kgs),  Cherry Ann Rojas ( 68 kgs) and Aprilyn   Maraino ( individual kata).

Kristine Andrea Celosa  salvaged the lone gold medal for NCR by beating Mae De la Cruz of Region 7 and Karen Mae Dajay of Region 9 in the 48 kgs final.

The other gold medalists were Malonie Maderaso of Region 4 in the 61 kgs and Crown Irish Bautista of Region 4 in the 68 kgs final.

Elsewhere:.

In   men’s basketball,  National  Capital Region  outplayed Region 4 (CALABARZON), 73-63,  Region 3 (Central Luzon)  defeated  Region 2  (Cagayan Valley) , 91-73, and Region 5 (Bicol)  subdued  Region 7 (Central Visayas), 74-71.

In women’s  basketball, it was NCR over Region 5 (Bicol) , 87-21;  Region 6 (Western Visayas) over  Region 10 (Northern  Mindanao),  78-61.and Region 9  (Zambonga) over Region 2  (Cagayan Valley), 43-29.

In men’s volleyball, NCR defeated Region 2   (Cagayan Valley), 25-17, 25-21, 25-21;   Region 3 (Central Luzon) outclassed ARMM, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16; and  Region 12  (SOCCSKSARGEN)  nipped  Region 7 (Central Visayas) ,  25-20, 25-20, 25-20.

In beach volleyball,  Region 4 over Region 1, 2-0 (men’s division) and  Region 1 over Region 6, 2-1 ( women’s).

In women’s lawn tennis, it was Region 2 over Region 9, 2-0;  Region 10 over Region 4, 2-1;  Region 8 over Region 6, 2-0; and Region 12 over  ARMM, 2-0.