SAC to award Batang Pinoy Palarong Pambansa winners

Philippine sports has various programs for its young athletes and two of them are the schoolbased Palarong Pambansa and the LGU-based Batang Pinoy.

The Palarong Pambansa is the biggest inter-school competition organized by the Department of Education (DepEd), while Batang Pinoy is one of the programs of the Philippine Sports Commission aimed at identifying talents not only from schools but even among out-of-school youth.

The Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) has always recognized student athletes who are able to achieve excellence in their sports while juggling their academics.

This will be done via this year's 35th San Miguel Brewery-SAC Sports Awards on March 7 at the SM City Seaside, at 2 p.m.

Leading the recognized student athletes is major awardee Samantha Gem Limos for athletics. Limos was hailed as the fastest woman in last year's Palarong Pambansa in Albay and Batang Pinoy.

Also getting citations for their gold performance in the Palar- ong Pambansa are Rogelio Miguel Tremedal for archery; John Marvin Rafols and Rick Angelo Sotto (athletics); Punta Princesa's young softbelles who snatched the softball title from the highly-favored National Capital Region; Daniella Reggie Dela Pisa (gymnastics); Raven Faith Alcoseba (swimming) and Jan Godfrey Seno, Allyssa Mae Bornia, Zethley Mae Alferez (tennis), and Central Visayas secondary boys team manned by Seno, Rucel Cero, Feb Wyndell Deja and Herbert Nino Sarraga.

The others getting citations are the gold finishers in the Batang Pinoy National Finals held in Tagum City last November.

Cebu Province athletes getting the recognition are Tricia Merced Opon and Elloise Marie Canillo (badminton); Alpheca Gonzales (chess); karatedo's Janine Narboada, Jeremy Laurence Nopre, Gerald Augustin Baclaan, Felix Calipusan Jr., Precious Avegail Belicario and DJ Mae Dente; Moira Frances Erediano (cycling, duathlon, triathlon); Karen Andrea Manayon (triathlon, cycling) and Fernando Agad Jr. for weighlifting.

Cebu City athletes in the Batang Pinoy getting citations are Sebastian Alex Blanco, Khalin Alex Abella and Lloyd Apawan (archery); Seth Abram Pilapil, Marchan Torregoza, Paul Apilan for athletics; the 3x3 boys basketball team; Chris Aldritz Pondoyo (chess); Dancesports' Lloyd Simon Asuque, Raylyn Jhea Romeo, Jake Emmanuel Corro, Andreah Kiem Capangpangan, Gylle Nino Diluvio, Julia Paz Branzuela, Jim Jocson, Mitchloni Dinauanano, Jaydel Fresh Pat, Angel Therese Epe, Andrew Ysla and Noelyn Mie Pedrano; karatedo's Nicholas Arthur Avila, Jisha Zyra Azur, Justin Ayra Azur, Joseph Casquejo, Aubrey Del Codilla, Khimlord Labura and Kim Andrei Makiling; Team Cebu City tennis players Bornia, Alferez, Elizabeth Abarquez, Angela Cabaral, Cero, Marc Nicole Suson Deja and Francisco Hidalgo; and also to be recognized are Batang Pinoy weightlifters Evangelito Dale Ceniza, Jeofrey Frasco Jr. and Dino Singson.