Maasin City, Southern Leyte - The Saint Joseph College, during the first inter-collegiate sports fest held recently here has grabbed the overall championship crown in all 6 games competitions with a total score of 280.

The eight-day games competitions held in three different venues at the city gym, Maasin Tennis Lawn and at SJC?s covered court, were based on an amateur scoring system of 50,40,30,20 according to our source at the city hall. The games competed were badminton, chess, table tennis, basketball, volleyball for women and volleyball for men..

The Maasin City College (MCC) garnered the second place with 60 points less (220) from that of the SJC. Third place went to the College of Maasin (CM) 180. The Systems Technology Institute (STI) bagged the fourth place position at160 points.

Individual team results of the sportsfest showed that SJC capped as winner in 4 games like badminton, chess, basketball and volleyball for women. But second place in table tennis and volleyball for men.

MCC got third in badminton, table tennis and in chess. However, it?s the second placer in basketball and volleyball for women. In volleyball for men, MCC was the first.

CM was the winner in table tennis, second in badminton, but 4th place in chess, basketball and volleyball for women. CM was third in the volleyball for men.

STI also in the individual team competitions reaped second place in chess, third in basketball and volleyball for women. The Computer College went down lower to 4th place in badminton, table tennis and volleyball for men

Promote the spirit of camaraderie; inspire incoming college students.

Prior to the grueling competitions there was a short parade led by City Vice-Mayor Effie Abiera-Sabandal and the Sangguniang Panlunsod members. They were followed by a total of 46 selected athletes aside from the officiating officials and 4 Sports Coordinators from the four participating colleges.

In his speech during the opening program Mayor Maloney Samaco standing at the stage fronting the city hall emphasized that the event has something to promote the spirit of camaraderie, develop social bonding, and foster closer ties among the 4 tertiary institutions of learning through healthy friendly games.

Samaco, Chair of the Maasin City Sports Council (MCSC) and President of the Maasin City College which he pioneered, said bigger things were considered to happen in the succeeding years? conduct of the Maasin Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association (MICAA) meet.

He thanked administrators, officiating officials and sports coordinators of every school for their support and for their favorable response to the idea of forming the Maasin Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association (MICAA) which is similar to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in Manila and in Cebu City.

Another purpose of hosting the first inter-collegiate games, the Mayor pointed out, was to inspire incoming college students to study in the city and not elsewhere. He added that the local colleges can very well compete with other colleges or universities in academic and physical fitness activities.

A highlight of the opening ceremony was a torch run led by Mayor Samaco and followed by the 4 sports coordinators of the colleges. Newly-appointed City Administrator Atty. Feorillo ?Bombom? Demeterio, Jr. led the oath of amateurism that was repeated by all the athletes and officiating officials.

Awarding Ceremony

A day after the sportsfest, there was an awarding ceremony held the following evening at the city gym.

The special event was led by no less than Mayor Samaco and attended by all the participants during the eight-day games competitions.

SJC received P10, 000.00 worth of sports equipment and the MASAM Torch of? Sports Excellence. MCC received P7, 000.00 worth of sports equipment. CM also received P5, 000.00 worth of sports equipment, while STI received P3, 000.00 worth of sports equipment.

There was also the selection of the Most Valuable Player in each game category, based on their respective active performances, scoring points and sportsmanship behaviors during the duration of the games. SJC?s 2 athletes Mark Anthony Gonzales and Eliza Almare are the MVPs for basketball and volleyball for women respectively. While MCC?s Michael Amper is the MVP in volleyball for men.

Also present were SJC Sports Director Dante Monter, City Councilor Ricky Montalbo, Vice-Chairman Committee on Sports, Bethany S. Gado. MCC dancers provided the intermissions. Newscaster Zaldy Olita acted as the EMCEE of the program.

The Sportswriter Mayor further announced that the next inter-collegiate meet shall be held sometime in November 2009.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

About the Contributor:

Mr. Quirico M. Gorpido Jr was an erstwhile Correspondent/Contributor to the following weeklies and dailies: Tacloban-based regional weekly a 33-year-old The Reporter for many years(now defunct), a Cebu-based weekly The Visayan Express(now defunct),Cebu-based daily The Freeman(1994-1998) now a sister publication of The Philippine Star, Maasin-based weekly The Southern Leyte Times for three years, Tacloban-based daily The Leyte Samar Daily Express(2000-2001), Cebu-based daily the Cebu Daily News(2002-2003), Tacloban-based weekly 7-year-old Tribune(2003-2007).