Palaro unfolds in Antique

SAN JOSE, Antique, Philippines – National Capital Region seeks to extend its domination of the Palarong Pambansa for the 13th straight year as the annual multi-sports meet for K-12 athletes unfurls today at the Binirayan Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista here.

The Big City bets dominated last year’s edition by raking in a 68-32-30 (gold-silver-bronze) medal haul in the secondary division and a 36-25-18 harvest in the elementary level to emerge the overall champion of the games.

The same is expected from NCR bets this year.

“The NCR has always been competitive but we’re expecting other regions to be more competitive this year,” said Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones in press conference yesterday.

Hostilities have started in football at the Binirayan Sports, Complex SAC grounds, Belison Central School and University of Antique field and gymnastics at the Binirayan Indoor Gym.

A big number of medals is at stake in the actual opening day.

Meanwhile, host Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao is thankful President Rodrigo Duterte is taking time to be the keynote speaker in today’s inaugurals expected to be attended by 12,000 participating athletes and coaches.

“Hosting this game has transformed this sleepy and practically unknown province into a sports hosting machine,” said Cadiao. “The President made us feel that by coming tomorrow, we are part of this nation and we think that is enough return of investment for us.”

Swimming, a medal-rich event set at main hub’s swim center, is to unfold on Tuesday with NCR expected to rule the four-day meet.

Other sports calendared this year are archery, arnis, aquatics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, futsal, sepak-takraw, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, lawn tennis and volleyball.

Meanwhile, the DepEd honored multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Elma Muros-Posadas with the Palarong Pambansa Parangal Achievement award for being an inspiration to young athletes.