If the results of last week’s POC-PSC National Games is anything to go by, there is more to Negros Oriental than just fun.
Negros Oriental, it turns out, is also about sports.
Our local athletes did us all proud with their sterling performances in various sporting events, upsetting even national players who were hoping to join the London Olympics in July.
As the POC-PSC National Games is an event designed to identify new talents for the national athletic pool, the PNG results is a wonderful reminder that we have outstanding athletes in our midst.
As we go to the press, here are the names of the Negros Oriental athletes who made us proud in this national sporting event:
Archery: Marie Crizabelle Merto (champion, women’s open recurve competition), Jennifer Chan (gold medalist, women’s compound open) Joan Tabanag (women’s open compound open)
Men’s Volleyball: Foundation University (champion), Glen Ventolero (best blocker), Kirby Aldeon (best spiker), Mark Merwa (most valuable player), Dwight Sun (best volleyball coach), Silliman University (runner-up)
Chess: Vincent Balena (champion, youth-boys division)
Badminton: Antonio Benjamin Gadi (champion, men’s singles)
Wrestling: Razel Inyong and Vince Anthony Sumaque (gold medalists, Greco-Roman wrestling)
Football: Negros Oriental Football Association (2nd place), FU Alumni Booters (3rd place)
Swimming: Adrian Bonocan (gold medalist, 19-Over, 100m butterfly 1:24.05), and Michael Alvarez (bronze medalist, 19-Over, 100m butterfly 1:30.98)
To you dear athletes, we doff our hats. We hope others would be inspired by your example to lead healthier lifestyles.
And if these new converts also win sporting events in the future, that would indeed be a wonderful bonus to all your efforts!
