IT was a splashing finish for the Cebuano athletes as three major teams from Cebu improved their medal outputs in the Batang Pinoy National Championships despite the weather challenge that Typhoon Ompong brought to Baguio City.
The national sporting meet concluded last Friday at the Baguio City Athletic Bowl after getting nearly cancelled last Sunday due to the landslide and flood in the host city caused by typhoon.
The Cebu City Niños were, as usual, on a prolific form and had the most medal haul among the teams from the Visayas region with 36 gold medals, 40 silvers and 44 bronzes in the partial and official result released by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday.
Cebu City sits on second place behind host Baguio City, which had an 83-81-107 gold-silver-bronze medal harvest. Laguna Province ranks third with 34-13-31 and is followed by Quezon City (29-16-18) and Pangasinan Provinces (24-24-25.)
Cebu Province rose in the ranking as it finished with 23-10-21 at sixth place, compared to its 17-17-17 medal haul at ninth place about two years ago in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Mandaue City had a notable improvement at 12-14-17 for 14th place, jumping from 24th place and a 4-6-8 medal count in the last edition of the Batang Pinoy National Championships.
Cebu City Sports Commission Edward Hayco said that he’s ecstatic with the performance of the “grassroots volunteers” despite the challenges they went through.
The more than 300 delagates from Cebu City stayed at the Philippine Sports Arena for four days as they waited for the typhoon to leave the Philippine area of responsibility before traveling to Baguio City.
“After being cleared to travel to Baguio City, Mayor Tommy Osmeña and city councilors Joy Young and Eugenio Gabuya told the delegation to travel not just to play but to show sign of support to Baguio City,” said Hayco.
The Cebu Provincial Sports Commission executive director Ramil Abing lauded the performance of the athletes and is planning to propose an athletes’ incentive to Gov. Hilario Davide III.
“I’m thinking of the same amount as last 2016. It was P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000 for the top three,” said Abing. “I’m very satisfied with the performance of the athletes. We have realized that getting to the top in the ranking is possible for us if the team joined in all the sporting events.”
The 170-man Cebu Province delegation was already in Baguio City when typhoon Ompong made landfall Saturday dawn.
“It was challenging for us, I thought that we will perform at below par because of the weather but the athletes have exceeded expectations. It’s not easy for us being there when the typhoon hit Baguio City,” said Abing.
Mandaue City Sports Commission officer-in-charge said that overall it was a good showing for them as majority of their athletes have won medals.
PSC chairman William Ramirez had considered cancelling that national games on Sunday morning right after the offertory mass held at PhilSports Arena. It took Ramirez two hours to get a consensus and finally give the go signal after getting the assurance of safe passage to Baguio City. RSC