The members of the Dumaguete City Yellowfins dragon boat team pose during the awarding ceremonies of the 2017 BakuNaga Dragon Boat Race in the City of Naga, south Cebu.
/RAY CHARLIE DIAZ
As the sun shone after successive days of rain, so did Dumaguete’s Yellowfins Dragon Boat Team as it was crowned champions in two categories of the 2017 BakuNaga Dragon Boat Race yesterday off the seas of the City of Naga’s Boardwalk.
The Yellowfins, taking advantage of the better weather following days of strong winds and rain brought about by tropical storm Urduja, emerged winners in the 300-meter Open and Mixed categories of the highly successful event headed by Dragon Boat Cebu Central’s (DBCC) Randy Su and supported by the local government unit of the City of Naga under the leadership of Mayor Kristine Chiong.
The Yellowfins topped the finals of the open category by clocking one minute and 37 seconds. The Yellowfins’ Team B had the time of 1:38:10 to place second while the Philippine Accessibility Disability Services, Inc. (Pads) Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team clocked 1:38:88 to finish third place.
The visitors from Dumaguete also ruled the mixed category, clocking 1:36:30. Runners up were Pads-A (1:38:50) and Gruppo Habagat A (1:41:42), respectively.
Zaldy Egera, the team manager of the Yellowfins, thanked Mayor Felipe “Ipe” Antonio Remollo of Dumaguete for the chance to compete in the event. He also praised the well-organized race and the venue.
“This has been so far the best venue we have ever raced in,” he said.
The champions received plaques, gold medals and P5,000 cash.
Su, meanwhile, announced that the race will now be an annual affair.
“We are very satisfied and would like to thank everyone involved in the organizaion of the race,” Su said. “The BakuNaga Dragon Boat Race will now be an annual event that will happen every month of December.”
City of Naga’s Events and Development Officer Arnulfo Omani helped in the awarding of the winners.
“In behalf of Mayor Kristine Chiong, I would like to thank DBCC for letting us be part of this growing sport in Cebu,” Arnulfo said.