POF grand final goes full blast

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Over 3,000 athletes from 52 local government units begin their chase for recognition and possible berths in the national pool as the National Finals of the third Philippine Olympic Festival fires off today at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex here.

Keen competition is seen in swimming, which drew the most number of participants at 329, composed of regional champions Manila, Laguna, Baguio, Zamboanga City, General Santos City, Negros Oriental and Iloilo.

Nine gold medals will be up for grabs at track and field, including the boys’ 5,000-meter and girls’ 3,000m runs where the six-day meet’s first two gold medals will come.

Action in archery, gymnastics, karatedo, muay and powerlifting will start today, arnis and Greco-roman wrestling will start on Sunday while taekwondo and freestyle wrestling will be held on Monday.

Also on tap are basketball, softball and sepak takraw. The event is backed by The Philippine STAR, Globe, Pagcor, Philippine Sports Commission, AMA Computer University, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Accel and Negros Navigation.

POF chair Robert Aventajado and host Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno declared the games open in elaborate rites before thousands of participants, coaches, delegation members and officials.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro delivered the inspirational message along with some of the country’s top sports officials, led by Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

Others who graced the event were wushu’s Francis Camacho, boxing’s Manny Lopez, bowling’s Steve Hontiveros, softball’s Jean Henri Lhuillier, sepak takraw’s Mario Tanchangco, muay’s Robert Valdez, volleyball’s Pedro Mendoza, powerlifting’s Nick Cabalza and POC’s election committee chair Victorico Chavez.

A total of 1,358 gold medals – 478 gold, 422 silver and 458 bronze medals will be disputed in the event aimed at discovering talents who could be trained and developed to become members of the national training pool.