Team Baguio has returned as champion of the Batang Pinoy National Championship in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Like the prophesied king returning, Baguio raked in medals leaving other teams from other local governments literally biting the dust to virtually win the event which was in the freezer for two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
An elated Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong profusedly congratulated the team of athletes 16 years and younger after hearing of the pre-Christmas gift of the athletes to the city as they see a bright future for local sports with the recent passage of the implementing rules and regulation of the Comprehensive Sports Development Code.
He said: “Massive congratulations to our athletes, coaches, parents and all those instrumental in retaining our Batang Pinoy crown. You nailed it. Cheers!”
The city athletes garnered 31 gold medals, 30 silver and 49 bronze medals as of Wednesday virtually clinching the over all crown with Pasig as a distant second with 22-12-14 (gold-silver-bronze) output. Quezon City follows at third with a 21-10-15 output and Laguna at fourth at 20-15-16.
The city received P3 million cash prize and two “Pursigido” Awards from Milo! on top of the over-all trophy
“Everyone (from PSC, NSAs, City Government, Sports Office, Deped, local sports associations and clubs, coaches, trainers, supporters, parents and most especially to our young athletes) who have been part of Batang Pinoy Team Baguio) deserves these awards,” City Sports Division Head Gaudencio Gonzales said.
The city is also set to fete archery sensation Jathniel Caleb Fernandez copped two more gold medals from the 30 meters FITA and Olympic rounds in the last two days of the meet.
His six-medal haul is one of the shining moments in Team Baguio’s campaign in the national sports meet.
Fernandez is under the tutelage of Coach Alexis Raquipo.
Team Baguio went to the Vigan games after nearly four months of training despite the absence of sports facilities which are undergoing major rehab like the Baguio swimming pool which only got water late last month.
The city is actually undertaking a massive facelift at the Baguio athletic bowl that disrupted trainings. Pigeon Lobien
