CEBU CITY – Pormal na inangkin ng Cebu City ang overall championship sa pagtatapos ng 9th Philippine National Games nitong Sabado sa Cebu City Sports Complex.
Ginapi ng ‘Queen City of the South’ ang 91 karibal na local government units (LGUs).
Nakopo ng Cebu ang 41 ginto, 54 silver, at 67 bronze medal. Bumuntot ang Baguio City na may 38 ginto, 36 silver, at 54 bronze medal, kasunod ang Mandaluyong City (26-17-27).
Tinaggap ng Cebu City ang cash incentives na P5 milyon mula sa PSC at dagdag na P5 milyon mula kay Pangulong Duterte.
Ayon kay PSC Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, ang cash incentives ay magagamit lamang ng LGU sa kanilang sports program.
Nanguna sa Cebu sina Fil-Am OJ Delos Santos sa karate, multiple gold medal winners Ronette Ayuda, Joselou Rebaldo, Prince Lee, at Dexter Tabique.
Nakopo ni Delos Santos, beterano sa Southeast Asian Games, ang ikaanim na kampeonato sa men’s senior individual kata
Ginapi naman ng Cebu City ang City of Manila, 21-16, 21-16, sa gold medal match sa men’s regu sepak takraw.
“For us, puso comes first, medals will follow later. That’s our philosophy,” pahayag ni Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco.
“That’s why it’s truly a blessing and an opportunity for these athletes to win gold medals in honor of the city. These athletes worked so hard. They are even helping kids from less fortunate barangay. So it’s very heart-warming to see them succeed.”
Iginiit ni Hayco na plano nilang gamitin ang napagwagihang premyo sa pagtatayo ng ‘sports hub’ sa South Reclamation Project.
“Our athletes need it. But I still refer to give the Mayor (Tomas Osmena) the privilege of formally announcing how it’s going to be used and what would be our sports projects in the future,” pahayag ni Hayco.
