WHILE Cagayan de Oro expects a strong finish in Mindanao Leg of the Batang Pinoy Meet, the sports-loving Mayor Oscar S. Moreno don't like to pressure the city bets to win.
“I just want you to enjoy the games and make your experience memorable for a lifetime,” said Moreno during Thursday night’s send-off dinner party at a local restaurant here.
On board at least five Rural Transit buses, the 249-strong Cagayan de Oro delegation of athletes, coaches and officials left the City of Gold on Friday night for Davao del Norte province, host of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Qualifying Leg from February 3 to 9.
“For the first time, mao kini ang pinakadako nga delegasyon sa Cagayan de Oro for Batang Pinoy Meet. And the city allocates P2,700 budget per head laras. So, we're hoping for the best to come in this competition,” said sports consultant Douglas “Rocky” Calingin in the company of City Sports chief Jaymar Rivera.
Last time in Oroquieta City, Cagayan de Oro sent a lean team that still managed to emerge as overall champion in amateur boxing and won some golds in badminton, swimming, and athletics events.
Rivera said he’s equally-confident of Cagayan de Oro's chances to perform creditably with the city's top coaches coming in full force with their respective athletes especially in boxing, chess, and taekwondo.
At 33, the taekwondo jins of coach George Arsenal will comprise the biggest bulk of Cagayan de Oro entries, followed by dancesport and swimming at 28 each.
Completing the list are basketball men and women (25), indoor volleyball boys and girls (24), arnis (19), karatedo (17), softball girls (14), table tennis and futsal (12 each), boxing and athletics (9 apiece), badminton (8), chess (7), and beach volleyball (4).