PNG Mindanao eliminations kick off Friday in Pagadian

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=5&rid=802567
• Thursday, September 10, 2015

(PNA), RMA/JFM/PR

PAGADIAN, Sept. 10 (PNA) -- Over 2,000 athletes from 70 local government units aspiring to become national athletes someday swing to action on Friday at the start of the POC-PNG Philippine National Games Mindanao eliminations at this scenic and cool seaport city here.

A total of 12 sports are on tap in the meet jointly organized by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission and supported by the Zamboanga del Sur provincial government led by Gov. Antonio Cerilles.

Scheduled in the four-day sportsfest are archery, arnis, badminton, billiards, boxing, chess, karatedo, swimming, taekwondo and the national finals of futsal and softball, majority of them to be held at the sprawling 65-hectare sports complex built by Gov. Cerilles four years ago.

“I was quite impressed by the complex because it is complete and truly conducive for developing athletes,” noted PSC chairman Richie Garcia, who arrived Thursday and was given a tour of the facility by the governor.

“We hope that other LGUs could follow the example of Zambonga del Sur,” Garcia said. “Hopefully Mindanao’s athletes could take advantage of this facility so they can develop and excel and challenge our national athletes in next year’s POC-PNG national finals.”

“We welcome all our athletes from Mindanao and are honored to host the eliminations of POC-PNG here,” said Cerilles, who has formed a Zamboanga del Sur Sports Academy catering to 200 athlete scholars from all over the region.

A protégé of the late POC president Gov. Jose Sering, a sports patron who groomed several past national athletes, including the multi-titled javelin thrower Erlinda Lavandia, he said all academy scholars not only receive athletic training but also lodging, education and good nutrition.

“Our aim to become hub for grassroots sports development in Mindanao, on top of enhancing the quality of life of our athletes,” Gov. Cerilles added.

Garcia formally opened the POC-PNG Mindanao leg here on Thursday in simple opening rites held at the CYC oval inside the sports complex where Mario Fernandez, a boxing gold medalist in the last Singapore Southeast Asian Games, lit the urn.

Sports Academy scholar Ruthelma Laylay, a Milo Mindanao Little Olympics champion, led the oath of sportsmanship for athletes.

Track and field competitions unfold at 7 a.m. Friday with 12 finals to be held at the Pagadian City oval in the center of the city.

Among those competing here is Lanao del Norte Palarong Pambansa standout Jie Ann of Plaridel, Misamis Oriental, who broke Palaro records in winning the girls 800, 1,500 and 3,000-meter races.

Chess actually started yesterday with the men’s and women’s blitz event finals.