2nd Paragames attract 1,000

MANILA—The National Vocational and Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) drew first blood as it trounced Quezon City Eagles, 45-36, in the opening game of the wheelchair basketball event in the 2nd Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PSC-Philspada) Para National Games in Pasig City.

More than 1,000 differently-abled athletes from 17 regions are competing for slots in the Philippine National team, which will see action in the forthcoming 2013 Southeast Asian Para Games and other international tournaments.

The week-long competition organized by Philspada, headed by Luis Jose Arellano and supported by the PSC, will officially open today at 4 p.m. with no less than Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco and Laguna Governor Joerge “ER” Ejercito as guest of honors at the sprawling San Luis Recreational Educational, Cultural Center and Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

PSC commissioners Jose Luis Gomez and Akiko Thompson-Guevarra are also gracing the rites along with Philspada president Miranda and chairman Michael Barredo as well as representatives from the Department of Education and Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG).

After the opening day, exciting actions in 10 regular sports disciplines and three demonstration sports will start Tuesday with athletics, swimming, table tennis, powerlifting, badminton, goalball, sitting volleyball, cycling and judo to be played at the SLREC sports complex.