Athletes' call to play in National Prisaa or Palaro

ATHLETES will have to choose whether to compete in the 2017 National Prisaa Championships in Iba, Zambales or in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa in Antique as both meets have the same schedule.

The National Prisaa is slated April 22 to 29 while the Palaro is on April 23 to 29.

Davao City Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) executive director Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia, during Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum, said that the National Prisaa was scheduled early last year.

"A year ago pa kami sa schedule na ito. Almost every year ang Prisaa nag-a-adjust sa Palaro pero ngayon hindi na namin mabago kasi ang Zambales mismo ayaw nang i-move sa May kasi rainy season na. Kung i-push namin sa May baka di matapos-tapos ang games dahil sa ulan," Sarabia said, adding that athletes will have to decide for themselves where to go and play.

He also said that they already expect a decline in the turnout of high school delegates as the Palaro has a secondary division. This, according to him, is already out of their control.

Sarabia added, "If athletes qualify in both National Prisaa and Palaro, we would encourage them to go to the Palaro instead since the government is funding all the expenses."

Prisaa High School athletes will be covered mostly by their respective schools.

The Davao City Prisaa Meet 2017 will kick off on February 18 at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Gym. Games will also be held on February 19, 25 and 26.

Top city performers will advance to the regional meet, which serves as qualifying for the National Prisaa, on March 10 to 12 in Tagum City.

A total of 18 events will be contested in the Davao City Prisaa Meet.

Venues include the RMC Gym, Davao Doctors College, Smash N' Drop, Tionko field University of Mindanao (UM) Matina Gym, Jose Maria College (JMC) SkyGym and Brokenshire College, among others.