Summer is that time of the year most naturally anticipated by students. Classes are off. Books, brain-bending assignments and brain-sapping exams take a backseat, supplanted by exciting trips planned months back, family outings, mall hopping and relaxing times at the beach.
For student-athletes however, the onset of summer means more time spent on training, more time spent away from their family as they launch their frenzied preparations for the biggest competition of their young athletic careers – the Palarong Pambansa.
Campus Sports cornered some of Cebu’s brightest bets for that shining yellow metal in the Palaro set this May in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Are the times they spend away from their family, away from the idyllic beaches and breath-taking vacation destinations all worth it?
Meet some of the region’s best bets for Palaro glory and their take on the 64-dollar question.
MICHAEL ICHIRO KONG (swimmer). Kong of the University of Cebu is undoubtedly the region’s top bet for swimming gold in the Palarong Pambansa. And the 16-year-old is never short of motivation to shine even brighter in this, his final Palaro.
In the recent Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet, the high school senior won five gold medals. And while he said that he is not putting pressure on himself to replicate the feat in the Palaro, his backbreaking training regimen betrayed his burning desire to make a lasting impression in the national meet.
“Ok ra man akong preparation dili lang ko mo set ug goals nga di nako kaya ma achieve pare dili pud ko ma disappoint,” said Kong. “Wala jud ko time mo pahuway ug mag vacation karon kay importante man gud kaayo ni nga meet di lang para nako kung di sa tibuok school ug region VII. Tibuok adlaw ko nag train sa CCSC pool kay gusto jud ko makadaug ug gold sa Palaro.”
Kong will be competing in the 200-meter Individual Medley (IM), 100 and 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 200m backstroke.
PSALM DANIEL AQUINO (swimmer). Like Kong, Aquino, an Asian College of Technology (ACT) gradeschooler would rather spend his summer vacation sharpening his swimming skills with the Palaro just around the corner.
Aquino said his day is spent mostly at the Maroca swimming pool in Talisay City.
“Morning ug afternoon akong training, so mauli ko sa amu gabie na jud. Igo ra ko maka pahuway ug matulog, sunod adlaw training na pud. Kanang laag-laag wala na na sa akong huna-huna kay unahon jud nako ang training para makadaog ko,” the determined 12-year-old exclaimed.
If Kong is the region’s best bet in secondary swimming, Aquino is its prized tanker in the elementary competion. Why? Well, let the seven gold medals he won in the CVIRAA provide the obvious answer.
Kong is coached by Rolando Alvarez while Aquino’s mentor is Lando Remolino.
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