GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) is all set for the 2018 Palarong Pambansa slated on April 15 to 21 in Vigan City.
Magdaleno Duhilag, the Department of Education-Region 12 sports supervisor, said Friday their athletes have already completed the three-week intensive training and are now in their final stage of preparation for the Palaro.
“We have not encountered any major problem so far. Everything has been smooth and we’re ready for the Palaro,” he said.
Duhilag said the region’s 751-strong delegation are now on their way to Vigan City in batches and are expected to be fully settled at their billeting area by Sunday, April 8.
He said it comprise a total of 505 athletes, 63 coaches and assistant coaches, 80 chaperones, 93 officials and 10 advance team.
The SRAA delegation was assigned at the University of Northern Philippines campus. It is located within the city proper and just around 1.2 kilometers away from the President Elpidio Quirino Stadium, the main venue.
The official said the first batch of the delegates left Koronadal City, which was the site of the Palaro training, for Davao City on Thursday for their scheduled flights to Manila, he said.
They were booked in three to five different flights daily from Davao to Manila until Sunday, he said.
From the Manila airport, he said they will travel to Vigan on buses provided by the provincial government of Ilocos Sur.
Duhilag said their intensive training mainly focused on individual events, which carried SRAA to its fifth overall finish in the 2017 Palaro in Antique.
He specifically cited arnis, boxing, taekwondo, gymnastics, archery, table tennis, badminton and lawn tennis.
“They produced most of our golds last year and we expect them to deliver again this time,” he said.
Also known as the Soccsksargen Warriors, SRAA won a total of 26 golds, 22 silvers and 35 bronze medals in the previous Palaro.
Citing their assessment with SRAA head trainer, Olympian Henry Dagmil, he said they could generate 30 to 35 gold medals this year.
Last year, Duhilag said they projected to get 22 to 24 gold medals and eventually won 26.
“We will try to maintain our number two rank overall in the elementary level and improve on our 11th place ranking in the secondary level. Overall, we’re hoping to land in third or fourth place,” he added.(HST/PNA)
