A LEAN-BUT-MEAN Davao City delegation left via plane in two batches for Cebu City Thursday to compete in the Philippine National Games (PNG) 2018 slated May 19 to 25.
A SunStar Davao source on Thursday said the first batch who departed at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport were 40 delegates of athletes, coaches and officials while the second batch were about 112 Dabawenyos who will see action in different sports.
Another source said that few athletes withdrew their participation but reasons behind it were not known yet as of Thursday.
However, the city's PNG delegates left without their allowances yet. A SunStar Davao source said once the cash advance is ready, a disbursing officer from the Davao City Treasurer's Office will fly to Cebu to release the allowances of the athletes, coaches and SDD-CMO staff.
Promising cast
A formidable chess team will try to reap honors in the Games.
International Master (IM) John Marvin Miciano, Fide Master (FM) AJ Literatus and National Master (NM) Alexander Lupian will lead the team that will also be composed of bemedaled athletes Jimzon Trangia, Anthony Mosqueda, Ella Moulic, UAAP champion Rowelyn Acedo, Zsuzsa Tabudlong, Exiquila Apao, Dhona Yngayo and Maria Jonah Lequin.
"We are all prepared," Trangia said in an interview with SunStar Davao Thursday.
He also said that the competition will be very tough due to the presence of different grand masters.
"Obviously dili kita ang favorite mag gold kay daghan kaayo GM mag-apil pero si Miciano ang favorite na mag gold sa atoa (We are not the heavy favorites to win gold but Miciano is our strongest bet to win gold)," he added.
National Arbiter Ely Acas, who will coach the men's team, said the players are all set to win medals.
Alfred Moulic will mentor Davao City's female woodpushers.