Palaro opening moved to give way to Pacquiao-Mayweather fight

TAGUM CITY–Athletes competing in this year’s Palarong Pambansa will be given the chance to watch the live telecast the highly-anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. megabout as the opening ceremonies of the Department of Education-run national games will be pushed back a day, education officials said.

Jenielito Atillo, DepEd-Southern Mindanao spokesperson, said opening ceremonies of the annual scholastic sports meet would be conducted at 1 p.m. on May 4, instead of the previous May 3 schedule.

The provincial government is set to provide free live screenings of the title fight between the two best boxers of their era, with huge screens to be set up at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Mankilam village here where all of the Palaro games are to be played.

About 20,000 athletes, coaches and officials are expected to participate in this year’s Palaro.

“We are very much aware of the fact that if we will compete it out with the Pacquiao fight, certainly nobody would attend the Palaro opening (ceremonies). We might not even be able to attend as this (Pacquiao-Mayweather match) is a once-in-a lifetime event we’ve been waiting for quite some time,” Atillo said.

Atillo, however, said the games would begin as scheduled on May 3.

“We’re glad the DepEd hierarchy headed by Bro. Armin (Luistro) decided to move the opening on May 4 (Monday) still at 1 p.m. But during the fight, there will be no games so everybody can watch and cheer for Pacquiao,” said Atillo. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao