CVIRAA Meet opens today

The region's premiere school-based sporting event, the 2019 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet, formally unfurls with an elaborate opening ceremony today at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex.

Department of Education Secretary Leonora Briones banner the long list of luminaries set to grace the grand opening bash.

Over 10,000 athletes, coaches and delegations from 19 school divisions in Central Visayas will take part in the multi-event spectacle that serves as Region 7's qualifying for the Palarong Pambansa.

Meanwhile, hopes are high despite some odds for both Cebu City and Team Mandaue booters as they start their title retention bid in their respective divisions.

Cebu City is powered by Don Bosco Technical College football squad with reinforcement Ethan Ramos, who won a silver medal in the previous Palarong Pambansa. Roxas' training with FC Barcelona is expected to boost the Niños.

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu powered Team Mandaue are also set to defend their secondary division title despite some odds.

Cebu City will face Talisay tomorrow, while Mandaue battles Tagbilaran City.

Aside from football, other sporting disciplines featured in the CVIRAA are athletics, archery, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis, dancesport, volleyball and wushu.