Tougher CVIRAA Meet seen

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  – With the maximized number of participants and shortened days of competition, action in this year’s Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet is expected to be tougher.

All the 19 contingents from all over the region have increased the number of athletes they brought in this six-day athletic meet and with this, Department of Education (DepEd)-7 director Recaredo Borgonia said a tougher and more challenging competition looms ahead.

“I believe that it should be done this way. If we can improve the performance of our athletes especially in the level of competition in a short span of time, then why not do it?” said Borgonia in justifying his move to cut the number of days of competition to four.

Borgonia is hoping that the performance of the Central Visayas athletes after the CVIRAA will be improved with the constant training they will undergo in preparation for the Palarong Pambansa next year in Pangasinan.

“Our athletes will still have a long time to practice in their respective events. I guess we have a good chance next year with the better showing that our athletes did in the previous meets. This time we will really focus on making good selections on the athletes for Palaro,” he added.

DepEd-7 supervisor Dr. Danilo Villadolid, the screening committee chairman, found a solution in completing all games within four days.

“As a solution to the shortened number of days for the competition, we maximized the number of venues and more courts for team events and more officiating officials as well,” said Villadolid.

Meanwhile, Team Cebu City starts its bid for a record 19th straight overall championship as hostilities formally commence today. The Niños topped last year's CVIRAA with 839.5 points.

“Our aim is to defend the title and increase our points. With the momentum that the Cebu City athletes have after the Milo Little Olympics National Finals, it will serve as their passport to victory,” said TCC delegation head Ricky Ballesteros.

The other competing delegations include Bais, Bayawan, Bogo, Bohol, Carcar, Cebu Province, Danao, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Tagbilaran, Talisay, Tanjay and Toledo.

Among the sporting events that will be contested at separate venues beginning today are the medal-rich athletics and swimming, archery, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sipa/sepak takraw, softball, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. (FREEMAN)