WITH its improved sixth place finish last year, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) athletes are hoping to sustain their gains and improve their medal production in the 2018 edition of the Palarong Pambansa.

Cordillera athletes start their build-up early this week leading to the largest gathering of student athletes from all over the country as it seeks to get better and hopefully add more to their 26 gold, 21 silver, and 21 bronze medal output in the 2017 edition of the annual sports meet.

Deputy Regional Sports Coordinator Georaloy Palao-ay said the region is set to send 608 athletes for the regular and demo sports and will be joined by 137 coaches and officials.

“We hope that our athletes will be inspired to perform better as we come up with the monicker “Fearless Highlanders,” added Palao-ay saying this is the time for Cordillera sportsmen to become stronger and bolder for the Palaro.

Bulk of the athletes will be from Baguio City after lording the 2018 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) meet with 211 while Benguet has 86 as Abra and Ifugao added 54 and 36. Tabuk City and Kalinga is set to send 49 with Apayao sending 32 while Mt. Province has 21.

Ilocos Sur is set to host Palarong Pambansa 2018 on April 16 to 20. The host province is expected to give student-athletes a unique experience during the Palarong Pambansa which coincides with the province's 200th founding anniversary.

Palarong Pambansa gathers more than 12,000 young Filipino athletes from all over the country, playing in different sports and disciplines to promote camaraderie and sportsmanship among students. (Roderick Osis)