CHAMPION. Ormoc City players playing football. Athlete learners from Ormoc City have earned the top spot in this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet that gathered student-athletes from six provinces and seven cities of the region. (Photo courtesy of EVRAA)
TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City athletes have clinched the top spot in this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet joined by six provinces and seven cities in the region.
Ormoc City collected 352 medals (178 gold, 104 silver, and 70 bronze), making them this year’s regional champion defending the title they previously won in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the regional sporting event. Due to the pandemic, it had been put on hold in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Most or 213 of the medals were earned by secondary students of Ormoc City, including 96 gold, 71 silver and 46 bronze. Players from the elementary level have a total of 139 medals, including 82 gold, 33 silver and 24 bronze.
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez congratulated the athletes, teachers and their coaches for winning the championship again.
“I am very proud of all our athletes. And I am endlessly thankful to everyone who has contributed to each athlete’s journey towards this grand slam victory -- their parents, the coaches, the teachers, the members of the LGU. We are 3-peat champions, a feat I honor and cherish,” Torres said in a statement.
She also thanked her husband, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez (4th district) for laying the foundation of the sports program in the city, which is now reaping success not just in the local sporting event but even in international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games.
Meanwhile, the Leyte province secured the second spot with 50 gold, 74 silver and 56 bronze medals while the third place went to Tacloban City with 19 gold, 27 silver and 46 bronze.
The athletes competed in 23 fields of sports that include wushu, taekwondo, pencat silat, sepak takraw, futzal, football, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, dance sport, swimming, billiards, track and field, arnis, archery, gymnastic, badminton, boxing, chess, table tennis, tennis and wrestling.
“I want to say that you have truly impressed us all. Your determination, perseverance, and sportsmanship have been nothing short of inspiring. You have shown us what it means to push beyond your limit and strive for excellence and for that we are grateful,” said DepEd Eastern Visayas regional director Evelyn Fetalvero during the closing program late Thursday.
DepEd has not yet released the number of student-athletes from the region who will compete in the upcoming 2023 Palarong Pambansa Marikina City this August. (PNA)
