An estimated 7,000 student-athletes and coaches from 18 different regions in the country will be arriving here April next year to compete in the 2018 national Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) meet.
Eighteen regions will participate in different sports disciplines during the national sports event at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex on April 22-27, 2018
Athletes both from the youth and senior division will compete in (team sports category) baseball, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, football, sepak takraw and softball, (individual sports) athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, dance sports, karate-do, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and weightlifting (academic and cultural) oratorical, vocal solo and duet, and the Mutya ng PRISAA competition.
PRISAA national President, Rev. Fr. Vicente L. Uy made the announcement during the national PRISAA board of trustees meeting held at the Bohol Tropics Resort and Convention Center last Friday. The meeting started to discuss preparations for next year’s national sports event.
Vice-governor Dionisio Balite who is also the president of the Bohol Schools Athletic Association expressed his gratitude to the PRISAA board for choosing Bohol to host such a prestigious event. This will be the second time for Bohol to host the games, the first time of which was in the late 70’s. The vice governor also assured the board that all safety measures for the athletes and guests will be prioritized.
The PRISAA board was composed of the different regional presidents.
PRISAA Executive Director Elbert Atilano raised the issue regarding the present condition of the track and field oval of the CPG sports complex which is not yet “competition-shape” ready.
Fr. Uy told the board that during a meeting with Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, he was given the assurance by the governor that the complex will be 100% ready for next year’s games. Schools and barangay courts will also be utilized for the games.
“We give other provinces the opportunity to experience hosting a big national competition and also give cultural education to athletes” said Atilano, who was instrumental in the inclusion of the weightlifting competition in the PRISAA last year which produced Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz who represented the Universidad de Zamboanga.
Provinces which hosted the PRISAA before Bohol were Pampanga, Cebu, National Capital region and last year’s host Zambales in which region VII emerged as overall champion. (Dj Dejaresco)