GOV. ESPINO, JR CONFIDENT OF TEAM PANGASINAN’S
STRONG SHOWING IN 2015 BATANG PINOY LUZON LEG
LINGAYEN – With rigid training and proper conditioning under the watchful eyes of established sporting names and training experts provided by the provincial government, Pangasinan entries are given excellent chances to place prominently in the Batang Pinoy-Luzon Leg scheduled July 17-22 in Malolos City, Bulacan.
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and other provincial officials were on hand in according Team Pangasinan, composed of 231 fifteen-year-old-and-above athletes, coaches and delegation officials, a warm send-off ceremony last July 15 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gymnasium.
In an inspiring pep talk, Gov. Espino exhorted the Pangasinan young athletes to “bring back the bacon” that will equal, if not surpass, their excellent showing in Batang Pinoy competitions, Team Pangasinan having emerged second over-all runner-up in the annual meet during the past two years.
Gov. Espino rallied the young athletes to “Go for Gold” by exerting their best, saying “… it is not only for the prestige and glory of your beloved province, but more so keeping the faith, you being role models for your fellow young people as vanguards of the provincial ideal of developing strong and well-motivated citizens who will one day hold the torch in our collective duty and responsibility to nurture and advance the interests and well-being of our province and people.”
For his part, provincial sports coordinator, Modesto Operania, reminded the delegation that their provincemates place high expectations on the Pangasinan Batang Pinoy team by proving equal to the trust and confidence given them by the Pangasinan officialdom, especially Gov. Espino who had repeatedly described the young Pangasinan athletes as the “official delegates” of the province.
Over the past four years, Team Pangasinan have figured well in the Batang Pinoy competitions, their performance steadily showing a marked improvement.
Team Pangasinan had romped off with the over-all team championship in the 2012
Batang Pinoy regional/Luzon leg and placed back-to-back 2nd runner-up in 2013 (held in Iba, Zambales) and in 2014 (held in Naga City).
Team Pangasinan has climbed up the Batang Pinoy national games leader board by placing 18th in 2011, 15th in 2012, 11th in 2013 and 9th place in 2014 in over-all ranking.
The local young athletes will vie for dominance in Arnis, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Futzal, Boxing, Chess, Cycling, Karatedo, Lawn Tennis, Sepak Takraw, Swimming, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball (3/3) and Wrestling.
/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca