AT 286 (athletes, coaches and offocials), Mindanao delegates will be the leanest team in the first ever Milo Little Olympics National Finals the Queen City of the South will be hosting on Oct. 23-25.

According to Megdonio Llamera, who conceptualized the Milolympics' staging with nationwide scope, Mindanao will only have 286 athletes, coaches and officials--mostly from Cagayan de Oro City--in the three-day meet featuring a dozen sports disciplines.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

"But we're optimistic that our local athletes can take up the challenge since we'll be fielding in Cebu the best out from the Mindanao Little Olympics," the indefatigable Llamera told Sun.Star.

Luzon team will be the biggest at 381 with NCR (National Capital Region) and host Cebu placing the maximum numbers of entries at over 300.

Llamera said Mindanao team will be provided with free hotel accomodation (Sugbutel near Cebu Pier), free meals and snack, one Milo shirt each to be worn during the opening and closing ceremonies, and boat fares (out and back) worth P2,000 (per head) by the sponsoring Nestle Philippines.

Regional Director Estrella Babano of Deped 10 will serve as delegation head for Mindanao contingent set to leave here on Oct. 21 via Gothong Southern-Dona Rita Shipping Line.

"Dako sab nga tabang ilabi na sa mga coaches and trainors kon mohatag og allowance ang mga schools nga lakip niini nga sports competition," added Llamera, citing the so-called "Home of Champions" Corpus Christi as having the biggest bulk of reinforcement at over 50, followed by Xavier University (more than 30) and Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) at over 20.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the Milo Little Olympics national finals expect the event to improve the competence of the local athletes to prepare them for bigger events like the Palarong Pambansa.

"We will have a higher level of competition for Milo this year since we will be bringing the best of the best from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR regions. This will challenge our athletes to step out of their boundaries and take those extra steps to be better in their sports," said organizer Ricky Ballesteros.

"We have sized up our competition and I believe the Visayas has a good chance of winning," he added.

Cebu City education consultant Joy Young said Cebu is lucky Milo had decided to hold the national finals in its turf.

"This will help us and our athletes in our attempt to improve our finish in the Palarong Pambansa next year. We are lucky that they decided to have the national finals here in Cebu so that apart from the division meets, we have the Milo Little Olympics regional and national finals," said Young.

For the longest time, the Central Visayas' best athletes have always played perennial second to the Luzon athletes especially in the Palarong Pambansa.

As the Milo Little Olympics stage the first national finals, winning the overall title is a challenge organizers take to heart.

"The Luzon athletes always win, especially in the Palarong Pambansa, because they get a chance to go against stronger and tougher competitions in Manila," said Department of Education's Danilo Villadolid, who is also one of the officials of the Milo Little Olympics.

Ballesteros said the national finals promises to be a tougher competition since they will now allow players who have played abroad, members of the national team and even foreigners to compete.

The foreigners just need to be enrolled in any school in the Philippines to qualify.

"Milo spent millions for its sports programs in order to encourage people to get into sports and help the country in its grassroots development program. We are also exerting effort to acknowledge kids who try their best in achieving their own goals," said Milo head Pat Goc-ong. (With Sunnex)