Palaro medals elusive no more
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City’s athletes capture first silver, bronze medals
The Alaminos City Division finally claimed its first ever silver and bronze medals in the Annual Palarong Pambansa courtesy of tennis and taekwondo in the elementary division.
Proving that the medals are not at all elusive for this young school division in this year’s sporting event held at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, were Deborah Abarquez, Jillian Clarence dela Cruz, Daryl Delos Santos and Ma. Shanice Bravo.
Surprisingly, this four of the city’s young and promising athletes won it on their first-ever appearance and on their final year in elementary except for Abarquez.
Abarquez, a grade five pupil of the Alaminos City Central School helped her team, the Ilocos Region, win the silver medal in the over-all team event.
Abarquez guided her team to a finals match with eventual champions, the Ilocos Norte City (INC) team during last March’s Ilocos Region Athletic Association Meet (IRAA) held in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
With her impressive performance and imposing presence on the court, she was personally handpicked by tournament officials and Ilocos Norte coaching staff to boost region 1’s chances to capture the gold in girl’s tennis elementary level.
Inspired by Abarquez’ exploit, the city’s taekwondo team also did their best to duplicate her feat despite the presence of powerhouse teams from different regions.
The troika of Dela Cruz, Delos Santos and Bravo of the Colegio San Jose de Alaminos, Holy Family Development Center and Shekinah Grace School, respectively, gold medalists in the last IRRA games, though managed to capture three bronze medals in the elementary level.
Jose Elvis Sison, Hundred Islands Youth and Sports Club adviser said that the city knew that for winning the first four medals, the (city’s) athletes’ shining moments has finally arrived.
“We’re no longer surprised that they delivered in the national stage," added Sison of the city athletes whose campaign was fully supported by the Braganza administration.
Sison joined the team for three days to extend to the athletes Mayor Hernani A. Braganza’s words of encouragement and all the support and assistance they need and report to the chief executive on the conditions of the athletes as well as other developments in the event.
While in this island paradise, he exchanges notes with fellow sports consultant and learn more on the well-established sports programs of key cities in the country in a bid to improve the city’s new sports program.
Dr. Arturo Viray, head of the city’s delegation said this (initial) achievement of the city’s young athletes is now the fruit of the comprehensive and sustainable sports and youth development program initiated by Mayor Braganza and lasting partnership among and between the city government and the city division,
“When they won in the recent IRAA games, we believe that they are geared up, capable and aching to capture the first gold, silver and bronze medals for the city in the Palaro,” stressed Viray.
The four new source of city’s pride are set to present their medals to Mayor Braganza anytime next week.
Joining them in the courtesy call are their respective trainers’ namely former board member Anthony Sison (tennis) and Kenneth Soriano and Edison Manuel (taekwondo).
Braganza, who changed the face of the city’s sports landscape and constantly mind on the general welfare of the youth, not only will congratulate and thank the Palarong Pambansa medalists for their remarkable feat but will likely be handing the hefty cash incentives to the latter. (CIO)
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