BAGUIO City judokas were asked to focus on their event in the ongoing the Batang Pinoy National Finals in Palawan following the squad’s debacle before their flight Sunday evening, August 25.

Gaudencio Gonzales of the City Sports Division said judo coaches together with some officials agreed to put behind their experience and deal with the problem after they get back to the city.

“After a meeting with our concerned judo coaches, we came up with a decision that the issue on Cebu Pacific will be put on hold since it is taking much of our time and attention. We will get back to the case when we arrive in Baguio. In the meantime, we will focus and prioritize more on our responsibilities in the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships in order not to jeopardize our performance,” Gonzales said.

The Summer Capital is the reigning Batang Pinoy National Finals champion and is pinning its hopes on combative sports, such as judo to retain the over-all crown.

Cebu Pacific earlier drew the ire of Baguio judo players after missing their flight to Puerto Princesa City.

In a Facebook post by members of the judo team, they arrive at NAIA Terminal 3 at 4 a.m. and were supposed to board Cebu Pacific flight 5J635 on August 25 at 6:30 and patiently waited to board at designated gate 119 as indicated in their pass.

“Our boarding gate was changed without prior notice. We knew about it last minute! Literally last minute. The only time we knew the boarding gate changed was during the last call we all ran hastily to our new boarding gate. Tired and exhausted, we arrived exactly right on time of the last call. But the airline personnel refused all of us to depart and board the flight. Considering the plane has not left yet and we were already there on the last call, the personnel even stipulated that it was the passengers’ fault that we missed the flight,” added the post.

After missing their flight, the group were asked to rebook another flight and get a new set of ticket for the all the 17 members at P5,240 each.

Cebu Pacific meanwhile in a statement said they are currently investigating the incident and assured to “refund in full” the Manila-Puerto Princesa City flight they missed.