Dr. Mark Preston S. Lopez
Dispatching a 305 strong delegation, the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College salvaged a first-runner up finish from its closest rival and perennial champion, the Benguet State University during the recently concluded CARASUC Athletic Meet hosted by the Abra State institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) on November 25-29.
The Warriors accumulated a total of 46 golds, 81 silvers, and 50 bronzes from the various competed individual and group events. What was more exciting during the last few days was MPSPC’s baseball team’s historic 14-0 victory against BSU that broke the latter’s long-time record-holding title and ended the former’s long drought for gold in baseball. MPSPC smashed BSU during the placement game that placed the latter in a 2nd runner-up slot and earned them the chance to face Ifugao State University for the championship match. The baseball team emerged victorious after a 4-inning final match and a 7-1 victory that secured 9 golds for MPSPC.
Meanwhile, the volleyball women team successfully defended its title as regional champions and contributed 6 gold medals. Other gold medal contributors were the teams of arnis (5 golds), chess men (4 golds), athletics men (4 golds), swimming men and women (13 golds), pencak silat (2 golds), and athletics women (1 gold). The athletes of individual games like archery men and boxing also grabbed one gold medal each. Other SUCs did not field athletes in karatedo so MPSPC’s players directly qualified for the National SCUAA games.
BSU went home with 154 golds, 54 silvers, and 57 bronzes while the 2019 games host ASIST landed as 2nd runner-up with a 43-28-40 medal standing. The Ifugao State University was proclaimed 3rd runner-up with a medal standing of 21-64-64, followed by the Kalinga State University with a 16-32-34 tally. Next year’s host, the Apayao State College took the last spot in the overall standing with a 12-30-38 medal standing.
While the College had no entry in basketball men and women, sepak takraw, dance sport, and lawn tennis because the College either did not fare well in these events in previous years or did not have any qualified athletes, the student-athletes in other events demonstrated strength and power fueled by their strong determination to proudly represent MPSPC.
Ms. Venus Naida P. Bawiyan, MPSPC Sports Director, on behalf of Dr. Rexton F. Chakas, MPSPC President, receives the 1st runner-up trophy from Dr. Leo Pasos, ASIST Bangued campus Executive Dean, and Prof. Aristotle Verzola, ASIST Sports Director during the closing program of the CARASUC Athletic Meet at the ASIST Bangued campus on November 28, 2019. Photo courtesy of MPSPC-MIS Team.
