INDANG, Cavite. – Army cadets Jaymark Balicha and Jesamae Licup had low expectations entering the Reserve Officers Training Corp Games Luzon leg.
But on Monday, Balicha and Licup found themselves surprisingly on top, scoring contrasting victories in the men’s and women’s 200-meter runs at the start of action at the Cavite State University track oval here.
An IT student at the Don Mariano Marcos State University in San Fernando, La Union, Balicha surged in the last 10 meters to nip teammate Richard Caralipio clocking 23.46 seconds to the latter’s 23.50, in the meet jointly organized by the Department of National Defense and Commission on Higher Education.
In contrast, Licup, of the University of Baguio, emerged as the runaway winner in the distaff side with a time of 26.7 seconds, relegating Occidental State College’s Wendimae Rada (29.6) and Katherine Sario (30.1) to second and third, respectively, in the competition backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the office of Sen. Francis Tolentino.
Navy cadets John Andre Ponce of the University of Cagayan Valley (23.8) and Northwestern University’s Faye Jemima Domingo (29.9 seconds) also emerge as tops in their respective races to advance to the ROTC Games national finals that will be held later this year.
“Hindi ko ini-expect na manalo kasi pressure sa schoolwork. Buti na lang na ‘yung hard work ko paid off,” said Balicha, who had placed second in the heats behind Caralipio.
A BS Criminology freshman student, Licup said she was surprised at her breezy victory, considering she was a last-minute entry in the event after competing in the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association relays in Manila a week before.
In partial preliminary volleyball results, Tarlac State University whipped Grandby Colleges of Science and Technology 25-7, 25-7, 25-13; Mariano Marcos State University shut out Don Honorio State University 25-0, 25-0, 25-0; and Kurios Christian Colleges Foundation crushed Asian Institute of Science and Technology 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 in Pool A of Army matches.
