About 302 gold medals are up for grabs in the 2005 Palarong Panlalawigan that unfolds tomorrow at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

The athletics hostilities, which was dominated by defending secondary champion Area III last year, will have the highest number of golds to be disputed at 64.

Area III, composed of players from Talisay, Murcia, Victorias and Silay, brought home 49 golds, 42 silvers and 18 bronzes to unseat Area VII in the secondary division.

Fifty-six gold medals are at stake in the swimming competitions that was swept by the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association tankers representing Area VIII in the 2004 provincial meet.

The volleyball tournament at the University of St. La Salle Covered Courts has 24 golds to be jousted for, while football and taekwondo will have 22 gold medals each.

Area VII, comprised of athletes from Bacolod City, is the reigning titlist in the elementary category after bagging 31 golds, 21 silvers and 21 bronzes last year.

Eighteen golds are up for grabs in baseball that will be staged at the Bacolod City National High School grounds, while 13 gold medals will be disputed in gymnastics, which will be hosted at the Negros Occidental Teachers' Federation Center. The archery, lawn tennis and sepak takraw events will have 12 gold medals apiece as 10 golds each will be battled for in racquet games such as table tennis and badminton.

Nine gold medals are at stake in softball at the Panaad pitch, while the chess hostilities at the West Negros College will have eight golds.

The basketball tournament at the Brgy. Mansilingan Covered Court will have five gold medals. The NOPSSCEA contingent will be represented by the West Negros College Baby Mustangs.

The Wesnecans of Dennis Tumayan will also gain support from some players of Mansilingan Christian Academy, this year's NOPSSCEA secondary basketball tournament first runner-up, and third placer USLS.

Boxing, which is set at the Bacolod City Sports Complex, will also have five golds.

The provincial meet dubbed "Excellence in Sports for Unity, Peace and Progress" is scheduled from Dec. 17-22. A technical meeting will be held together with the final submission of entries at 8 a.m.

Contingents also aiming for titles in the 16-event, 9-team competition are Area I (San Carlos, Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante and Don Salvador), Area II (Cadiz, Manapla and Sagay), Area IV (San Enrique, Pulupandan and Valladolid), Area V (La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan and Himamaylan).

Athletes from Area VI (Cauayan, Hinobaan, Candoni, Ilog, Kabankalan and Sipalay) and Area IX (Negros Occidental High School) will also see action in the provincial meet. *CIT

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