Bohol’s Jinky Lansang competes in the javelin throw competition of the CVIRAA meet at the City of Naga. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Bohol tracksters, Talisay swimmers give Cebu City tough challenge in CVIRAA meet
While the Cebu City Niños continue to reign in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) competition, it is clear that other teams have improved dramatically in this annual multi-sporting meet.
The Niños, as expected, captured their 24th straight overall title in the City of Naga recently with 113 gold medals, a far cry from the 150 plus it usually wins, while Mandaue maintained its runner-up finish.
But other teams such as Bohol Province and Talisay City showed much promise in the competition.
The Boholanos were the biggest improvement as they jumped from seventh last year to third place overall this year.
Much of the team’s success was from its tracksters, who harvested 22 gold medals at the Teodoro Mendiola Sr. Oval. The Boholanos actually dislodged the once dominant Niños on the tracks as the Cebuanos managed just 13 gilts.
Talisay City may have just landed at sixth in the rankings but its vaunted swimmers harvested 19 gold medals to rule the event, beating the Niños, who managed 17 golds.
Department of Education Region VII Education Support Services Division chief Dr. Luz Jandayan told Cebu Daily News she was surprised with Bohol Province’s performance.
“They usually finish at the bottom of the top ten,” Jandayan said. “I asked them what their strategy was and I found out that they really housed the athletes during training season and most of them live near the school. And there’s really huge support from their DepEd Sports coordinator and local government unit.”
She added that Bohol’s determination could be a good example for other teams that want to improve their rankings in the annual meet.
Rose Butcon, tournament director of softball who is part of the Bohol Province delegation, also said it was the training that really spelled the difference for the team this year.
“The entire delegation of Bohol Province trained for two months. And the support from the provincial government helped a lot,” she said, adding that they will focus on improving in other sports. “We already found our winning ways in athletics so we are trying to improve in swimming next year.”
Just like Bohol, the vaunted swimmers of Talisay City under the tutelage of Coach Roland Remolino also credited their intense training for their success.
Remolino said their training this year wasn’t the usual as he was more strict with his program.
“I think my attitude towards my swimmers makes us stand out. I can be their best friend and I can be their worst nightmare. I am strict to those who are hard headed and I always reminded them to train hard,” Remolino said.
And he’s not even stopping there as he has set a tougher goal for his team in the future: sweep all the titles against the Cebu City swimmers.
“It’s everyone’s dream,” he said. “I am not being selfish. But we have to consider that some of my swimmers will graduate soon so I won’t stop discovering new talents.”
Although this may be alarming for Cebu City, it can actually be good news for the Region VII delegation what will be competing in this April’s Palarong Pambansa in Albay. Because this means that the tougher competition will bring out the best athletes for the Central Visayas team for the national meet.
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