BANTAY, ILOCOS SUR -- The Davao Region elementary girls softball team suffered a heavy beating from Western Visayas, 0-15, in their Palarong Pambansa 2018 championship match at the Cirilo Lao Construction Compound here Friday to annex the silver medal instead.
The runner-up finish was the best performance the Davraa elementary girls softball team has achieved after a semi-finals stint in the Dapitan Palaro in 2011.
Davraa coach Isidro Gaitano said, "May mga errors po tayo pero talagang magagaling po ang Western Visayas at ang lalaki nila compared sa mga players natin."
He prayed while the team was in a huddle after the thrashing defeat then he cheered them with words of encouragement.
Gaitano said they should continue training considering that most of his players are beginners.
"Mas exposed talaga ang Western Visayas and Calabarzon at Central Luzon (sa competitions). Wala kaming softball tournament na nasasalihan ang baseball meron yung Davao Baseball Cup pero walang tournament na para sa elementary girls softball," he told SunStar Davao via Facebook Live.
He added that scouting bigger and taller players could help beef the team for next year's Palaro to be hosted by Davao City.
Team captain-pitcher Rubie Tacpan said: "Happy gihapon mi maski pildi mi."
Tacpan, of Baguio Central Elementary School (BCES), said Davraa could still bounce back next year.
The team was also bannered by Kyle Iguianon, Lovely Pelicano, Henelyn Daya, Zynnarah Belle Carsano, Caryl Kaye Paladon, Catherin Maputol, Rica Gubal, Progelie Maambong, Aerona Jane Anajao and Cristela Mae Cerezo with assistant coach Ruel Janamnam and chaperone Edna Salpocial. They come from BCES, Lower Tamugan ES, Upian Es, Andili ES, Lt. Cipriano Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School and New Albay Elementary School.
At the San Juan Municipal Gym, the Davraa secondary boys basketball team secured a championship berth set at 8 a.m. Saturday after beating Western Visayas Region Athletic Association (WVRAA), 85-80, behind the heroics of Vince Petdeo Cuajao, Aljay Alloso and Cayle Manlimos of Holy Child College of Davao and Junnie Perdido of St. Mary's College of Tagum.
Davraa secondary basketball coach Nestor Sorrosa said it was a total team effort. He lauded his players, saying, "Winning attitude sa mga bata, dili jud magpapildi (They don't want to lose)."
Sorrosa said he did not see the players blame each other when somebody makes an error nor did he see anybody grumbling.
Davraa is pitted against defending champion National Capital Region for the gold medal match.
The bronze went to Calabarzon after routing Western Visayas, 90-52.
"Against NCR, gagmay jud ta. Speed nalang jud og depensahan ilang mga outside shooters kay mao jud ang bantayan sa ila pag mangasulod ilang mga tres maglisod ta. Kinahanglan depensa jud (We are smaller than NCR team.
We could compensate that by tightening defense against their outside shooters. We must have solid defense," Sorrosa told SunStar Davao.