THE Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) was pleased by the performance of the 330-man delegation of Cebu City Niños in the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Aug. 25 to 31.
The Niños settled for overall second place with a total medal haul of 36 gold medals, 34 silver medals and 35 bronze medals. Baguio City retained the overall crown and was well ahead with 61 gold medals, 45 silvers and 70 bronzes.
Davao City captured 31 gold medals, 30 silvers and 41 bronzes, good enough for overall third place.
“I’m very pleased about (the results) even just being number two. Because the city did not spend that much to be in the Top 5. I know there are cities that spend P100 million upwards for their sports program,” CCSC chairman Edward Hayco told SunStar Cebu on Monday.
Cebu City also finished second overall in last year’s national championship for Under-15 athletes held in Baguio City. The Niños racked up 36 gold medals, 40 silvers and 44 bronzes that year.
Hayco said the CCSC will be having its strategic meeting to plan out what direction to take and how to continue pursuing the grassroots program and balance it with the aim of being number one.
“It can be costly. A hybrid version (of the grassroots program) may evolve. Blending grassroots into the best of the best concept,” said Hayco.
The Batang Pinoy Championship had 31 sporting events and was participated in by 223 local government units.
Next to Cebu City among the local government units from Cebu was Lapu-Lapu City, which won 15 gold medals, seven silver medals and 10 bronze medals good for 11th place.
Meanwhile, Cebu Province, which finished at sixth place last year, dropped to a dismal 22nd place with nine gold medals, 15 silver medals and 20 bronze medals. (RSC)