THE Cebu City Niños are going to the nationals!
Cebu City won the gold medal in the elementary basketball event of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet 2026 after beating Cebu Province, 79-68, in the finals on Thursday, March 26, at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in the City of Naga.
With the win, the Niños will represent Region 7 in the Palarong Pambansa 2026, which will be held from May 24 to 31 in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
Strong finish seals win
Cebu City controlled most of the game, but Cebu Province made a late run and cut the lead to just two points, 66-64, with four minutes left.
The Niños stayed calm and stepped up on defense, making three straight steals to pull away and secure the victory.
Coach Dennis Lee Pacquiao said he was surprised but proud of his team.
“I didn’t expect this. Our focus was just to work hard and win every game so we could reach the finals,” he said.
Team effort
The team is made up mostly of players from the Cebu Institute of Technology-University, with additional players from Mabolo Elementary School and Don Bosco Technical College Cebu.
Coach Pacquiao praised his players for not giving up, especially when Cebu Province threatened to take the lead late in the game.
The Niños will continue training as they prepare for their trip to Agusan del Sur, where they will compete against the best teams from across the country. / JBM