The 2006 edition of the Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association Meet, showcasing the top Region VI school-based athletes in the elementary and secondary levels, opens at the Villareal Stadium in Roxas City, Capiz today, a day before action in eleven disciplines fire off.

Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas, former Department of Trade and Industry secretary, will be the keynote speaker, while Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez will give his message of encouragement during the opening rites of the regional meet.

Hostilities in athletics, lawn tennis, volleyball, softball, sipa, table tennis, badminton, sepak takraw, baseball, football and basketball will take centerstage tomorrow, with majority of the events taking place at the Villareal Stadium.

Capiz Gov. Vicente Bermejo and Roxas City Mayor Antonio del Rosario will also give their welcome messages to the student-athletes from Capiz, Negros, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras who will compete in the school-based competitions.

The top athlete from each province will lead the oath of sportsmanship, while the different heads of delegations will hoist their respective banners, Dr. Eden Deriada, chairperson of the DepEd Physical Education and School Sports Division for Western Visayas, said.

Different schools from Capiz will also render their respective field demonstrations to add color to the opening rites that is expected to draw about 5,000 athletes, coaches, trainers and officials, Deriada said. This year's WVRAA Meet also marks the first time that little league softball will be held, with Education and Training Center School, third placers in the Little League World Series for the past two years, bannering the Negros squad.

Negros and archrival Iloilo are expected to fight tooth-and-nail for the overall championships in both the elementary and secondary divisions. The Negrenses brought home the overall title in the secondary category last year, while the Ilonggos ruled the elementary hostilities.

Other events lined up in the regional meet are chess, gymnastics, swimming, taekwondo, archery and boxing.

Meanwhile, the last batch of the Negros contingent, composed of 50 athletes and coaches, will leave Bacolod City at 8 a.m. today via Weesam Express to compete in the regional meet.

The first batch of the Negrenses, comprised of 197 athletes and coaches, left for Roxas last Sunday with Felipe Dumancas, DepEd PESS head, and Nanette Roa of DepEd leading the group. About 233 athletes and coaches, led by Manuel De Oro, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Provincial Sports and Development Office, left Bacolod yesterday as the second batch of the Negros delegation. *CIT

back to top

Reg'l Palaro opens today
'Young champs hope to match Manny's feat'
PVF forms marketing arm for Asian volleyball hosting
Battle of Top 10 bowlers tonight
11 teams confirm entry in 10-Under tilt
Panasonic darts tournament set