NINETY student-athletes of the Leyte Sports Academy, aged 11 to 16, took shelter at a newly built badminton hall, but had to hide later under a boxing ring nearby after the whole structure like most of the buildings in Tacloban City crumbled to the ground at the height of Supertyphoon Yolanda two weeks ago.
LSU officials, led by executive director Ruben Tamayo, said all the athletes survived, although 15 of them sustained serious injuries. Some were picked up by their parents, others just ran away and are now unaccounted for.
The Philippine Sports Commission said they will help find some 60 more student-athletes from the devastated LSA and, like the 30 already quartered at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, will be provided with clothes, food, housing and training needs.
Tamayo and coach Trece Academia said the disaster came just when the young athletes were preparing for the Batang Pinoy nationals that was subsequently shelved.