BACOLOD City — Western Visayas dancesport stars Andrei Villanueva and Ma. Victoria Cruz delivered a commanding performance in the National PRISAA Games, sweeping six gold medals in the youth division and cementing their status as among the country’s rising Latin dance talents.
Competing before a packed crowd at the Bacolod City College Gym, the Central Philippine University tandem ruled every major Latin dance category with sharp execution, polished choreography, and near-flawless synchronization that consistently impressed judges throughout the tournament.
Villanueva and Cruz struck gold in the Samba, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive events before sealing their dominant campaign with another championship in the Grade A Latin Dance category.
The pair’s six-gold haul became one of the biggest highlights of the dancesport competition as Western Visayas continued its strong showing in the national collegiate meet.
Despite the overwhelming success, the duo revealed that the road to victory was not easy, especially after Cruz battled an injury prior to the competition.
Cruz admitted they did not anticipate such a dominant finish, saying their victories were the product of relentless preparation and discipline in training.
Villanueva, meanwhile, credited their chemistry and years of friendship for helping them remain composed under pressure during the competition.
He said the trust they developed through years of bonding and spending time together translated well into their performances on the dance floor.
With PRISAA now behind them, Villanueva and Cruz are shifting their focus to a bigger challenge as they prepare to represent Western Visayas in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Norte.
The pair is now eyeing their first gold medal together in the prestigious national meet./PN
