ZAMBOANGA CITY – Western Visayas' athletes arrived in this Western Mindanao city yesterday travel-weary, but in high spirits as they brace for battle in the National Private Schools Athletic Association Meet. 

Led by WV PRISAA athletic manager Roger Banzuela and WV PRISAA board of trustees' member Fr. Tony Limchaypo, the Region 6 bets took a 16-hour ferry trip from Iloilo City to reach this city, dubbed by local officials as "Asia's Latin City".

The delegation had little trouble getting to their billeting quarters in Barangay Tumaga from the port.

But because the contingent was close to 300 and the vehicles available were not enough, some teams, especially chess and taekwondo, had to wait for about 30 minutes, before they were transported to the billeting area.

After a brief rest, the players in athletics and football held light workouts, while the rest of the delegation prepared for the fellowship event scheduled late last night.

The mellow mood in the Western Visayas camp could turn perky and lively in the next few days as hostilities in 14 disciplines go full blast.

Western Visayas is gunning for a fourth consecutive overall title in the meet that serves as the official national collegiate championship among regions.

The region six bets are defending champions in men and women's swimming, women's volleyball, men and women's chess women's athletics, women's table tennis, men and women's badminton and women's taekwondo.

The other events scheduled in the April 8-14 meet that is expected to draw 3,000 athletes are softball, baseball, sepak takraw and new event, karatedo

Banzuela points to the host region, Western Mindanao, Central Visayas and Southern Tagalog as the teams that will figure prominently in the title race.

"Apart from Western Visayas, these regions parade entries in most of the events," he said.

Banzuela expressed confidence that the region can retain the title, even without a team in baseball, a title that is worth 25 points in the overall championship.

At a meeting on board the M/V Cotabato Princess, Banzuela told coaches to monitor athletes' diet as that could greatly affect their performances in the competition.

The athletes will enjoy buffet meals until they head home on April 16, Banzuela said.

WV PRISAA officials said the participation in the meet cost around P2.5 million with P1.2 million allocated for food and accommodations. Close to P800,000 has been spent on transportation. The funds come from membership fees of WV PRISAA member-schools.

Zamboanga is hosting the meet for the second time in four years. Iloilo hosted the meet last year.*CPT

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