THE GRUPPO Habagat Cebu Dragon Boat Team proved it is one of the best paddling teams in the Visayas as it was crowned champions in the women’s small boat race of the Sandugo Dragon Boat Festival last weekend in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The women’s team of Gruppo Habagat finished the 300-meter women’s small boat race in 1:39’37 to emerge champions.
Dauis Wild Dragons (1:39’60) and BSU Tacloban (1:44’73) finished second and third, respectively.
The win didn’t come easy for Gruppo Habagat, especially after team captain and stroke side pacer Anna Dominique Cuna sustained an injury midway through the elimination round.
But the team still endured the challenge en route to its first gold medal.
Team spokesperson and Haide Acuña credited the team’s achievement to teamwork and dedicated training.
“We refined our technique and took extra load doing pool training during weekdays and additional hours on the boat during weekends. This is no small feat since we all have day jobs. But with passion, discipline, teamwork, anything is possible,” said Acuña, who also gave credit to the training team got from coach Jimmy Petilo of the Philippine Air Force dragon boat team.
The Gruppo Habagat Team (1:23’81) also finished second in the mixed standard 300-meter category behind champions Dauis Wild Dragons (1:23’45). BSU Tacloban was at third with a time of 1:24’84.
The Sandugo Dragon Boat Festival was organized by Bohol Paddlers Association and had a total of 14 teams with 340 paddlers competing from Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete and Tacloban.