La Trinidad opens title retention hunt in Benguet meet
ALL EYES will be on Benguet’s capital town of La Trinidad as t seeks another over-all title in the provincial sports meet which opened Monday morning at the Benguet Sports Complex.
La Trinidad was the runaway winner in last year's meet by carting away 143 gold medals including 83 sil- ver and 64 bronze in the three day sports event.
The high school squad dominated the contest and hopes to duplicate the or even better the feat with its 104-50-41 haul while the elementary squad pulled in 39-33-32.
The elementary division hopes to retain its title in chess, swimming, softball, and taekwondo while the secondary team is vent on remaining the champion in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, billiards, boxing, sepak takraw, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, wrestling, and wush.
Hoping to dislodge La Trinidad's domination are Tuba and Benguet State University who place second and third last year.
Other towns vying for medals are Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Itogon, Mankayan, Sablan, and Tublay.
Governor Crescencio Pacalso urge delegates to exert effort and think of the upcoming Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) and Palarong Pambansa as an inspiration to work harder.
"I urge you to level up or exert more effort to improve, it’s not enough that you have won in the provincial meet. The next competition would be more difficult, the other participants would be higher and caliber than what you are going to meet here in the provincial meet. Kailangang kapag kayo ang nahirang pupunta sa CARAA para sa ating probinsiya kailangan kayo ay mag ensayo, practice harder, raise the level of your exercise," declared Pacalso.
"I throw this challenge to the coaches, the coaches who will be responsible for this job after the provincial meet, make sure our athletes level up not only in the regional competition but also in the national competition," the governor quipped
Meanwhile, Department of Education – Cordillera regional director May Eclar in her message during the opening as read by assistant regional director Bettina DaytecAquino lauded officials from the barangay level up to the provincial level for their untiring
support to youth activities, competitions and programs.
Just recently, the province has allotted P1 million as cash incentives for athletes who have excelled in regional, national, and sports competition.
“This event speaks for the commitment that all of us hold for sports. We are sure that we will witness athletic performances of the highest quality. To our young athletes, take this opportunity to bring out your best and compete in the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play, respect, self-discipline and resiliency. And take this opportunity to come closer to each other. Don’t forget to make friends,” the DepEd official added.
Aquino also noted while the region may have lost the bid to hit the 2018 Palarong Pambansa, this should motivate and inspire athletes and coaches to prepare well and aim for becoming number one.
The provincial meet will officially run until December 8 with various playing venues in La Trinidad: Adivayan Swimming Pool (Bineng), Beneguet Sports Complex, Benguet National High School, Benguet State University, SDO- Adivay Hall, Buyagan Elementary School, Cordillera Career Development College, Provincial Auditorium, Provincial Capitol Gymnasium, Puguis Elementary School Covered Court, and San Jose High School Gymnasium. With a report from Roderick Osis