Team CdeO still Normin’s best in `national games’
CAGAYAN de Oro City finally overtook Iligan City in what was called a battle for supremacy in Northern Mindanao during this year’s edition of the Philippine National Games (PNG), which ended on May 25 in Cebu City.
This, after Team CdeO landed in 18th spot with 10 gold , 4 silver and 11 bronze medals in the final and official medal count released on Monday, June 4.
Iligan City followed next at 19th place with 9 gold , 11 silver and 28 bronzes medals.
Before the final overall result, Iligan was in 14th place with 9-10-27 (gold/silver/bronze) in the last partial and official result as of 6 p.m. on May 25.
Team Cdeo was at 32nd place at that time with 4 gold , 4 silver and 10 bronze medals.
But, Cagayan de Oro made a quantum leap behind the heroics of its boxers in the final day of the country’s premier national games.
The Oro boxers went on to sweep all their final matches to overtake Iligan in the final medal count and preserved the city’s dominance in Region 10.
City sports overseer Rocky Calingin found Iligan a threat in the region’s supremacy next year.
But, the city-- as early as now—has intensified its preparation even including arnis and taekwondo to the delegation in the next PNG episode.
“We will improve next year especially with the inclusion of arnis and taekwondo,” said Calingin, now fully aware that the two events are medal performing sports disciplines in the city.
Davao City, however, reigned supreme in the whole island of Mindanao as it landed fourth in the over-all medal count with 19-31-44.
Two more local government units from Mindanao namely General Santos City and Zamboanga City made it to the top-10 circle.
GenSan came in sixth with 17-24-34, while Zamboanga was in ninth place with 14-7-19.
Host Cebu City, on the other hand, ruled this year’s national games after garnering 48-69-79 medals, while Baguio City followed suit with 38-37-59.
Mandaluyong City claimed the third place with 27-18-30.