LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Team Visayas looks forward to its third straight overall title as the 3rd Milo Little Olympics (MLO) National Finals officially fires off tonight at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex here.
MLO executive director and Team Visayas’ head of delegation, Ricky Ballesteros said that the roster of athletes this year is considered as the best so far but the entire team felt a little bit pressured in getting the grand slam title.
“This year’s athletes are stronger compared before and they will surely have a good finish in their respective sporting events. Even if we believe in their winning capacities, the pressure is still there since the National Capital Region is also doing something to get the title,” said Ballesteros.
Ballesteros added that Visayas athletes should not get intimidated with the NCR players because they already defeated the latter twice but at the same time they should not be complacent in winning.
“I told them to just enjoy the game, that way the athletes will not feel the great pressure. We were able to overpower the NCR not only once but twice, now they will be pressured on how to prevent us from getting the grand slam title,” he said.
Over 300 athletes will be representing Team Bisdaks in the different sporting events featured in the competition.
Team Visayas looks forward to victories in team events like football, volleyball, sepak takraw, gymnastics and table tennis.
The Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) elementary and secondary squads will carry the Visayas banner in football while the University of Cebu (UC) is fielding its table tennis squad.
In volleyball, perennial champions and four-time Palarong Pambansa winner Catmon Elementary School is expected to once again stamp its class.
The Abellana National School (ANS) Spikers and Pajo National High School (PNHS) volleybelles will also have great winning potentials in the secondary division.
The sepak takraw team of ANS will also be one of the must-see squad as the youngest national team member, Rhey Jey Ortouste confirmed to join the squad. He will go straight to Pangasinan from his Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) stint in Indonesia.
Feeling the pressure of maintaining the cham-pionship in the gymnastics event, University of the Visayas (UV) coach Darlene de la Pisa was helping her wards perfect their routines while still on the boat to Manila.
“I am pretty much confident that these events will bring great winning results in this year’s competition. We are really rooting for the team events because it is where the most of number of points will be taken,” said Ballesteros.
Ballesteros also credited the addition of athletes from Bacolod City, Iloilo, Dumaguete City and Bohol in swimming, athletics and taekwondo events.
“As long as we will not be in the last rank in all of the events and we will be consistent second placer next to NCR in some events, we have a great chance to retain the overall title and eventually we can bring home the perpetual trophy,” Ballesteros ended. (FREEMAN)