After a strong start in athletics, Western Visayas advanced to the quarterfinals of elementary boys and secondary boys and girls’ basketball and secondary girls’ volleyball, after separately hurdling their second assignment yesterday in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan.

With the core of team coming from West Negros University, the secondary boys’ basketball squad mentored by Dennis Tumayan beat Region XII (CRAA), 88-66, to secure a seat in the quarterfinals. They will play against ARMM today at 10 a.m. for their last game in the eliminations.

It was the same story for the high school girls’ basketball team, who blew away CRRAA, 85-44, to advance to the quarterfinals, while the elementary boys’ team routed host Pangasinan, 73-47.

The secondary girls’ volleyball team of coach Malot Lozada also scored their second win yesterday at the expense of CALABARZON, 25-22, 25-17 despite having to play outdoors then transferring to another venue when it started to rain.

Meanwhile, the elementary boys’ football team of coach Alan Hemida blanked MIMAROPA, 3-0, to start their Palaro campaign on a bright note.

As of 5:20 p.m. yesterday, Region VI or the Western Visayas region had 7 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze medals to temporarily top the medal tally with 17, while the National Capital Region trailed behind with 7-3-5 gold-silver-bronze harvest.

But while the West Visayans are now leading the medal race, the Palarong Pambansa overall champion will be decided based on the rule of point system.

Earlier, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said that all gold medalists in the games in Pangasinan will receive P10,000 cash incentive while the silver medalist will get P5,000 and P3,000 for the bronze medalists.

For team events, the governor said the provincial government will reward the squad with P50,000 for a gold medal, P30,000 for silver and P10,000 for bronze.

The governor was in Pangasinan last Monday to attend the opening ceremony with President Benigno Aquino III as guest speaker.

Marañon earlier said that Negros Occidental is bidding to host the Palarong Pambansa next year in Bacolod City.

Also signifying their intention to join in the bidding is Cebu City.*NAB

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