THE Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association (NOPSSCEA) garnered a total of 115 gold medals, 84 silver, and 46 bronze medals to rule the elementary and secondary divisions, as well as kept the over-all championship in the recently concluded 2019 Palarong Panlalawigan.
For the elementary level, NOPSSCEA tallied 47 gold medals, 31 silver and 15 bronze medals with the swimming team as the top contributor to its medal haul with 13-6-5 gold-silver-bronze for the boys' category and 9-9-3 for the girls' division.
The gymnastics team also dominated the women's artistic gymnastics (WAG) with 8-3-3 gold-silver-bronze and rhythmic gymnastics (RG) with 5-4-0 while NOPSSCEA ruled the badminton event with 2 gold and 2 silver medals for the boys' category while 3 gold and 2 silver medals in the girls' division.
The over-all champions also dominated the girls' taekwondo with 3 gold medals and a silver while finished second in the boys' division behind Bacolod City (3-1-0) with 2-1 gold-silver result.
On the other hand, NOPSSCEA hauled a total of 68 gold medals, 53 silver and 31 bronze medals at the secondary level with swimming team leading the haul with 8-7-8 for the boys and 16-12-8 for the girls.
The archery team also delivered 8-6-2 for the boys and 7 golds for the girls as the taekwondo tallied 5 gold and a silver medal in the boys' division and 5-2-2 for the girls. Badminton boys also ruled with 2 golds and a pair of silver medals while the girls finished second a gold, 3 silver, and a bronze.
NOPSSCEA president Mark Molina said that he’s happy that they championed the games despite challenges.
“This serves as an inspiration to all Board members, administrators and the athletes themselves that as long as long as we are champions, as long as we have winnings, as long as we have the dream, NOPSSCEA will continue to soar,” he stressed.
With the Palarong Panlalawigan over, NOPSSCEA turns its focus for the upcoming Regional PRISAA slated January 31 to February 7, 2020.
Settled for over-all 1st runner-up is Area 4 which garnered a total of 66 gold, 47 silver and 41 bronze medals followed by Bacolod City (Area 7) with 53 gold, 59 silver and 67 bronze medals, and Area 3 as 3rd runner-up with 36 gold medals, 44 silver, and 57 bronze medals.
Top finishers for the Palarong Panlalawigan will represent Negros Occidental in the 2020 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet in Makato, Aklan in February 15-22.