By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negros Occidental elementary boys’ basketball team clinched the gold medal in the 2023 WVRAA Meet after taking down powerhouse Iloilo in the finals at the Maloco Covered Court in Aklan province’s Ibajay town over the weekend.

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 cagers 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 would 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, 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 72-34 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 the Iloilo squad in the finals at the Malinao Elementary School Ground in Malinao town.

In baseball, Team Iloilo swept the championship in the secondary boys’ division (which defeated Negros Occidental) and elementary division (against Aklan) in the matches held at Numancia National School of Fisheries./ASC, WDJ