Ormoc City wins 2018 EVRAA champion’s title

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — For the first time, Ormoc City’s “Siglaro Elites” delegation to the 2018 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet held in Calbayog City in Samar from February 4 to 10, finished off as champion of the annual event by bagging 109 gold, 55 silver, and 72 bronze medals.

Defending champion Leyte province came in second with 88 golds, 69 silvers, and 56 bronzes, while Maasin City of Southern Leyte landed third with 24 gold, 35 silver, and 30 bronze medals.

Fourth place was Baybay City in Leyte with 22 gold, 45 silver, and 32 bronze; Tacloban City was fifth with 22 gold, 27 silver, and 28 bronze, while host Calbayog City garnered 14 gold, 16 silver, and 36 bronze, to finish at 8th place, after Biliran province at 6th and Northern Samar province at 7th.

Ormoc’s championship achievement was met with jubilation from Ormocanons who in the social media were profuse in their congratulatory messages to their athletes and city officials.

Mayor Richard Gomez, in his Facebook account said: ““Our journey towards victory in Region 8 games began with a single pair of shoes. I knew all along that if our athletes were using the correct pair of shoes, with the proper sporting equipment, and being taught by high level coaches, these could spell victory in our quest for number one. And it happened today!”

He was referring to Ormoc’s performance in the EVRAA last year, when the athletes hiked their gold haul to 84 in 2017 from 35 in 2016, because they got sports-specific shoes from the mayor. The shoes excited the athletes and, even their parents, they vowed to try their best.

This year, Mayor Gomez again did the same, and also brought in national coaches, among them sporting legends Elma Muros and Onyok Velasco, to train the Ormoc athletes.

Gomez also said the EVRAA championship was only the beginning. He will also prepare the athletes for the Palarong Pambansa in Vigan City this April 16-20, adding that he is hopeful they bring in gold medals this year.

The mayor said he is not only doing Ormoc athletes a service, but also those of other LGUs. “Now that other LGUs saw that we were successful in what we did, I am sure they would follow suit. They will have to level up, while we will also continue to become better.”

Under the Gomez administration, the city government had a sports scholarship that will help athletes pursue their sports while studying. He believed that the city, with its sport program, can encourage its youth to veer away from bad vices or drugs.

Gomez also thanked the students, teachers and education officials: “Thanks to our schools and teachers who shared their time to learn together with the athletes to improve their coaching skills, to our DepEd officials in Ormoc, to our city council and sports office. This is history for us.” (FREEMAN)