Luzon, Mindanao, NCR out to stop 300-strong Visayas team from winning perpetual trophy in Milo

Friday, November 18, 2011

THREE hundred athletes from the Visayas traveled for 30 hours to make history--win the first ever perpetual trophy of the Milo Little Olympics.

The elementary and high school kids were up to the challenge, using the 19-hour free time on the boat training. However, the long trip proved to be too much for the young athletes as several needed medical attention after vomiting and complaining of headache before reaching Pangasinan.

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“They were nauseated and we had several athletes who vomited. We just gave them fluids so they won’t be dehydrated. There were also several who were really tired because we reached Pangasinan past midnight. But the kids are all well-rested and are on top of their game during the opening and definitely ready to play,” said medical team head Bernard Son.

The games in the 12 events start today in different venues.

The rivalry between the Visayas and National Capital Region is so intense with the perpetual trophy just an arm’s length from Visayas, with Ricky Ballesteros and NCR’s Dr. Robert Calo exchanging retorts.

“We are hoping to dethrone Visayas. I am sure Ricky (Ballesteros, Visayas regional head) is willing to take that offer,” said Calo.

Last year, the Visayas finished with 568 points, just just 16.5 points ahead NCR. One more and the most-coveted perpetual trophy will go to the VIsayas. The team that wins three straight national titles will win the perpetual trophy.

Ballesteros added that it is their mission to bring home the trophy. “We want nothing less than to bring home the trophy where it belongs,” he said.

They have prepared hard for it with rigid trainings for athletes and coaches that started back in the summer. Ballesteros added they had their coaches and athletes trained by, ironically, experts from NCR.

“We were trained by really good coaches. In fact, one of our gymnasts turned out to be really good that after training for their routines, he is still suspended in mid-air until now,” said Ballesteros.

Preventing Visayas from winning the title is, however, a mission shared by Mindanao and Luzon.

“This is the biggest challenge for all of us--to prevent Cebu from bringing the perpetual trophy home. Lahat kami naghahabol na matatalo naming ang Visayas,” said Luzon head Tess Bernardino.

Meanwhile, Milo Sports Executive Andrew Neri said their hosting of sporting events for kids is not meant to increase their market share.

“There is no sales component in hosting these games so we aren’t doing this to increase our market share,” said Neri. “We want to help out the Department of Education, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission in developing the grassroots. Almost all of us involved in this were former athletes and the most important things and values we have, we learned from out experiences with sports. That is what we want the kids to learn as well,” said Neri.