Over 3k athletes converge at 2019 Batang Pinoy in Tagum City

FILE — Zambonga City’s Albert Jose Villaces (third from left) crosses the finish line first in the boys 100-meter dash of the Batang Pinoy Mindanao Regionals trackfest at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Athletic Sports Complex in Oroquieta City.

TAGUM CITY—The journey to discover the future generation of Filipino sports heroes continues Sunday in the Mindanao qualifying leg of the 2019 Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.

An integral part of the PSC’s grassroots sports program, the BP Games have produced the likes of future Sports Hall of Famers Hidliyn Diaz (weightlifting) and Caloy Yulo (gymnastics) as well as famed boxers Rogen Ladon and Carlo Paalam.

A total of 3,553 athletes from 90 local government unite in Mindanao have registered in 20 sports, all of them aspiring to carry the national colors in international tournaments someday.

“We’re finally ready after months of preparation,’’ said PSC chairman Butch Ramirez. “We thank everybody, especially the local government units, for their support in the PSC’s quest to discover future Filipino sports heroes.’’

Diaz was discovered in the BP Games more than a decade ago before the three-time Olympian captured a silver medal in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna, a two-time Olympian, and Rio de Janeiro Olympian Nestor Colonia (weightlifting) also began as stars of these Games for athletes 15 years old and below.

Davao del Norte governor Anthony Del Rosario will deliver the welcome remarks during today’s 3 p.m. opening ceremony.

Also gracing the opener of the eight-day tourney are Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Eduardo Ano and PSC commissioners Charles Maxey, Ramon Fernandez and Celia Kiram.

Karl Yulo, Caloy’s younger brother, shone the brightest with seven gold medals during the 2018 Batang Pinoy national championships in Baguio City while Nicole Marie del Rosario pocketed four golds in cycling.

Medal-rich swimming and athletics will be played along with archery, badminton, basketball, volleyball, boxing, chess, karatedo, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and lawn tennis, among others.