Booters of Don Bosco and Springdale clash in the boys’ secondary division finals game in the Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center. Don Bosco won, 1-0.
cdn photo/tonee despojo
With stint in CVIRAA, Palaro uncertain, Cebu City athletes advised to stay prepared
Whether Cebu City athletes will be allowed to compete in the 2018 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) or not, the Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Division still advised the winners of the 27th Cebu City Olympics to continue training while they wait for the decision from the Cebu City Government.
The Cebu City Olympics was the qualifying meet for the team that would represent Cebu City in the CVIRAA. Winners in the CVIRAA will then represent the Central Visayas region in the Palarong Pambansa.
Athletes from the University of Cebu led the Webmasters to the top of the annual multisporting meet for the third straight year and 25th overall after hauling 59 gold medals, 45 silvers and 29 bronze medals. University of San Carlos-Basic Education (USC-BED) finished second with a 32-32-35 haul.
Gold and silver medal winners will make up the Cebu City team for the CVIRAA, slated February 2018 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
However, it can be recalled that Cebu City councilor Joy Young, Chairman of the city’s Committee on Education, told reporters last Monday that he will only let Cebu City athletes join the CVIRAA and the Palarong Pambansa if DepEd Region VII removes from their post Education Support Services Division Chief Dr. Luz Jandayan and Office of the Regional Director Juliet Jeruta, whom he accused of mishandling the Region 7 delegation in the Palarong Pambansa last April in Antique.
With their stint in the CVIRAA still uncertain, the winning athletes were still advised to continue training.
In an interview with Cebu Daily News, DepEd Cebu City sports coordinator Francis Ramirez said that while they’re waiting for the funding from the city government, they will try to keep the athletes busy in training to keep them in shape whatever the outcome be.
“By next week, we will have a meeting with the winning coaches and the tournament managers that will determine the training pool. Even without the go signal, we will still continue the training. If they say go, we’ll be ready. If they say no, we’ll continue training because sports activity is year round so there’s no need to be complacent. There are a lot of other tournaments coming so at least they’ll be prepared,” Ramirez said.
Meanwhile, Unit V, which consists of City Central School, USC-BED and UC, retained the elementary crown of the Cebu City Olympics by harvesting 44 golds, 42 silvers and 27 bronze medals, beating Unit VII (27-22-11) and Unit III (14-6-6), which finished second and third, respectively.