Team Pangasinan goes to Bacolod for Batang Pinoy National Finals

LINGAYEN-The Team Pangasinan composed of more than a hundred athletes and technical officials left the province on Thursday, January 23 for Bacolod City to compete in the Batang Pinoy National Finals which will be held from January 28 to February 1.

The team left at 11:00 pm and are expected to arrive in Bacolod in the morning of January 25 according to Provincial Sports Director Modesto Operana.

In a dinner and simple send-off ceremony held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here, Operana reiterated Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s appeal to the young athletes to always bear in mind the value of discipline.

As he re-echoed Gov. Espino’s message, Operana said that the real essence of sports activities is to instill discipline aside from professionalism and excellence that would bring honor to Pangasinan which has eventually earned respect from all over the country after it has slowly regained its status as a premier province fulfilling a mission to become number one.

“Palaging ilagay sa isipan ang disiplina sa sarili at huwag magpakita ng anumang hindi maganda bilang mga Pangasinense dahil ang Pangasinan ay isa na ngayon sa mga tinitingalang lugar sa Pilipinas,”he said.

Operana said that Pangasinan athletes are very fortunate to have an all-out support from the provincial government.

He said the provincial leadership fully supports sports development in the province especially among the younger generation because the governor wants to develop potential youth champions not only in the country but in international competitions abroad.

The promotion of sports development is also in support to the national sports development, Operana said.

Among the delegates included in Team Pangasinan include the Karate Do athletes who grabbed the overall championship in the Batang Pinoy Luzon elimination, the male volleyball team who took the silver, sepak takraw team, athletics, track and fields, volleyball and basketball teams.