Cebu City’s Top Athletes Prepare for Batang Pinoy Sports Event in Tagum City

Local top athletes, who represented their respective schools and units in the 26th Cebu City Olympics, would now suit up for the Cebu City Niños in the Batang Pinoy National Finals on Nov. 27 – Dec. 3 in Tagum City.

The 315-member Cebu City delegation would leave for Tagum City on Nov. 24.

The squad has some 160 competing athletes, most of them gold medalists during the Cebu City Olympics that concluded last weekend.

Danny Villagracia of the Cebu City Sports Commission said the team would be competing in all but six events.

“There are 26 events for the Batang Pinoy National Finals. We will be joining in 20 events. The sporting events that we don’t have participants are gymnastics, wushu, rugby, judo, baseball and wrestling,” he said.

Cebu City sports coordinator Zenaida Gocotano said not all winners are going to the Batang Pinoy National Finals since there are events in the Cebu City Olympics that are not in the Batang Pinoy.

The Niños will participate in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, dancesports, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball and weightlifting.

Villagracia said the budget for the Cebu City delegation is about Php 3 – million that covers the uniform, transportation and the competition/meal allowance of the participants.

The team would travel via boat from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro City on Nov. 24 and would take a bus trip going to Tagum City.

Cebu City finished third overall in last year’s edition, which was held in different playing venues in Cebu. (PNA) NYP/EB/MP/EBP