“WE’LL be more cohesive and a better team next year.”

Admitting the 172-man Cagayan de Oro delegation had underperformed in the recent 2019 Batang Pinoy National Finals, city sports consultant Paul Douglas “Rocky” Calingin nonetheless congratulated the Mayor Oscar Moreno-backed bets for their collective efforts in the weeklong 15-under meet, slated August 25-31, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

“We were aiming for a better finish but we are nevertheless proud of the achievements of all our athletes. We will be looking into the aspects that need improvements so we can achieve a higher standing next year,” Calingin told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.

“Also daghan mga first time nag apil sa national namely basketball girls, futsal girls, softball girls, wushu and wrestling. But maskin first time nila sa national, naa sila na produce nga medals (basketball gold, futsal silver, wushu gold, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes, wrestling 1 silver),” added Calingin.

On the final day of action, boxers Lady Jane Payla (distaff’s 46 kg) and Angelou Lofranco (46 kg) both punched their way to a golden finish on top of the squared ropes to bring Cagayan de Oro’s total of golds to eight (2 more in chess, 1 in badminton, 1 in karatedo), just a gold away from its nine-gold finish in Baguio City or seven-gold short of its 15-gilt target in Puerto Princesa.

“Actually, naka-eleven golds ta in the official medal tally last year in Baguio City pero wala namo gi-count ang duha in boxing event because wala’y kontra sa ilang category so, wala gayod sila naka-perform. Kadto lang tanan nga nadula atong gi-consider,” Calingin explained.

The power-punching Lofranco, who was also a gold medalist last year, was more impressive in Puerto Princesa, annihilating his foes - one after the other - in vicious manner and with plenty to spare.

“Grabe kakusog manumbag bataa (Lofranco). First round o second round ra iyang mga kontra surrender na,” said SK federation president John Michael Seno, who assisted delegation head Jaymar Serina Rivera in taking care of the Oro athletes’ welfare at their billeting quarter in Palawan National School (PNS) and to the different playing venues around the country’s premier tourist hub.

The 14-year-old Lofranco, a grade 8 student of Macasandig National High School, fought along with some other national boxing qualifiers from the City of Gold without their well-respected head coach Elmer Pamisa, who has been pre-occupied by the Philippine team’s preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games hosting in November.

“Last year, upat atong golds sa taekwondo. I think, Cagayan de Oro put up a good fight in this year’s Batang Pinoy National Championships daghan atong silver nga wala lang gyod na-convert sa gold. Sa amo lang sa badminton, tulo among target ang nakapeldi sa amo in early round encounter maoy nangharos. We have to intensify our school sports program para mas maka-reinforce ta next year,” remarked Eric Miguel from the so-called “Home of Champions” Corpus Christi School.

The other 2-gold taker is the chess event behind the brilliant performance of 11-year-old Ruelle “Tawing” Canino from Kauswagan Central School, even as the Oro cagebelles of coach Catrina June Pong Biongcog and assistant coach in her better half Boning Biongcog made a record for themselves by winning the team gold -- undefeated, and by huge margin.

“Plus factor gyod sa Team CdeO ang mga coaches nga ga-effort beyond na sa ilang kaugalingon nga extra budget, oras ug singot like Catrina ug sa iyang husband Boning. Apil na kini sa mga aspeto nga atong i-consider unsaon pag-improve sa atong performance next year,” Calingin added.