PNG VOLLEYBALL. A Cebu City blocker foils an attack from a Cebu Province spiker in this piece of quarterfinal action in men's volleyball of the Philippine National Games at the University of San Carlos Gym in Cebu City. Cebu Province defeated Cebu City in the quarterfinals and later beat Makati City for the gold medal. (Photo by Luel Galarpe/PNA)
CEBU CITY -- Although several final-round matches were still being played as of 6 p.m. Friday, the front-running Cebu City Niños appeared headed for glory at the Philippine National Games unless there would be major shake-up in the overall medal tally.
As of 5:30 p.m., Cebu City was still on top in the official medal standings with 38 gold, 51 silver, and 58 bronze medals and was expected to pad its lead as the Niños are heavily favored in the medal-rich dance sport event.
Baguio City still closely trailed the Niños with a 34-32-40 gold-silver-bronze medal output, followed by Mandaluyong with 23-13-16, Gen. Santos (GenSan) with 16-22-27, and Zamboanga with a 14-6-16 tally.
However, in the unofficial medal tally from the Cebu City Sports Commission, the Cebu City Niños already garnered 47 golds, 56 silvers, and 58 bronzes.
Earlier Friday, Cebu City won the gold in women’s softball and two gold medals in arnis, courtesy of Tomas Malazarte Jr. and Sven Zion Rondina in the sparring event.
Whatever the results in the gold medal matches in boxing, dance sport, chess, table tennis, and volleyball, Cebu City is already assured of a spot in the top three.
The overall winning local government unit (LGU) will receive PHP10 million in cash assistance for its sports programs, instead of the PHP5 million originally put up by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) after President Rodrigo Duterte doubled the prizes for the top finishers in the PNG during the opening last Saturday.
The four runner-up LGUs will bring home PHP8 million, PHP6 million, PHP4 million, and PHP2 million, respectively.
Aside from medals, winning athletes also received cash incentives and will get the chance to represent the country in international sporting events, among them the Olympics, Asian Games, and Southeast Asian Games.
The weeklong Philippine National Games 2018, presented by the PSC and supported by Smart Communications and STI, served as try-outs for the selection of future national team members.
A total of 3,309 athletes, 678 coaches, and 311 officials participated in 22 sports disciplines including archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, cycling, dance sport, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, mountain biking, rugby football, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, lawn and table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, indoor and beach volleyball, and weightlifting. (PNA)
