LSA athletes join Palarong Pambansa 2012

By AHLETTE C. REYES, Provincial Media Relations Center
May 2, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Twenty-six athlete-scholars of the Leyte Sports Academy made it to the final cut that form part of the EVRAA delegation to the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2012 to be held in Lingayen, Pangasinan on May 6-12, 2012.

Former board member Rowil Batan, who heads the management of the LSA at the Leyte Sports Development Center, said the athletes garnered spots to join the delegation after they won medals during the EVRAA Meet 2012.

The LSA athletes would mostly represent the region in athletics and swimming in the Palarong Pambansa.

To recall, during the Maasin EVRAA Meet, the LSA-bred athletes in track and field earned a total of 34 medals out of the 49 medals; while, in swimming, out of 64 participation in various swimming heats, the LSA tanks garnered a total of 47 medals out of the 56 medals contended.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla meanwhile urged the LSA athlete-scholars to show their best and get good standing. He likewise urged the rest of the competing delegation from Eastern Visayas to earn a better medal finish this year.

The governor likewise said, the Palarong Pambansa is a good “exposure” for local athletes to test their skills and discipline.

“I would like them to regularly compete so their skills can be tested. They cannot just grow on their own. They have to regularly get exposed and compete with others,” Gov. Petilla said.

Among the sports included in this year's Palarong Pambansa are athletics, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.

Most these sporting events will be held at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center in Lingayen, though there will be activities held in the cities of San Carlos, Bugallon, Binmaley, and Dagupan City.