THE Milo Champions Academy Sports Clinics, a nationwide integrated grassroots training for young children, held its graduation rites in Cagayan de Oro Friday at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.

Megdonio "Megs" Llamera, co-organizer of MCA Sports Clinics, said that 110 boys and girls from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental underwent the modular trainings on the sports disciplines they have chosen.

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The trainees, whose ages range from six to 14 years old, were accompanied by their parents when they signed up for the training which started last May 18, right after the opening program.

Undertaken jointly with the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, all the trainings were held inside the facilities of the newly-refurbished world-class sports center, according to sports center manager Oscar Cinco.

Cinco, also co-organizer of the summer clinics, said he has to respond to the day-to-day needs of the coaches and the trainees who underwent at least three hours of trainings every other day.

Enrolment record shows that gymnastics was the most sought-after event as there were 34 trainees, all of them girls, while basketball with 23, were all boys too. Other events and the number of enrollees were: chess, 16; table tennis, 14; taekwondo, 12; and swimming 11.

Llamera said that performances of the enrollees were evaluated by their respective coaches during the culmination rites. Trainers or coaches were as follow: Bong Gabales in basketball, National Master Levi Mercado in chess, Ester Waga in gymnastics, Dario Hernane in table tennis, George Arsenal in taekwondo and Myrna Balang in swimming.

Milo sports coordinator for Northern Mindanao, John Montalvan--himself a basketball coach--led the distribution of certificates of training and special awards to the trainee-graduates. (PR)