NCR regional elims to determine team’s Palaro roster

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region (NCR) will hold its regional eliminations on Monday to determine the members of the team that will compete in the 2009 Palarong Pambansa (National Games) in Tacloban this April. The 2009 edition of the annual youth games will be held at the Leyte Sports Development Center in Tacloban City from April 26 to May 2. The NCR eliminations, where the regions’ 16 cities and one municipality are expected to participate, will be held at the Rizal High School (RHS) track and field in Pasig City. The traditional parade of athletes will usher in the opening rites featuring cultural and contemporary dance numbers to be presented by selected students of the country and Asia’s largest high school. Prior to the opening program, competitions in Little League and secondary baseball and softball already began Friday at the Ateneo and Rizal High school fields respectively. Competition goes full blast in different venues in Pasig City and nearby cities on Monday right after the opening ceremonies. The weeklong multi sports competition will feature athletics as the centerpiece event, which starts after the opening ceremony at the RHS track oval. Other events to be contested and their venues are badminton (Pasig Central Elementary School), arnis (Eusebio High School), elementary basketball (Sagad covered court), secondary basketball (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig), chess (Department of Education Pasig Division Office-Menguito Hall), football (Ateneo field) elementary sipa and sepak takraw (RHS), table tennis (PCES) and volleyball (Sta.Cruz and San Jose covered courts). The medal-rich swimming event will be held at the PhilSports Complex pool, boxing at the Pasig City quadrangle and gymnastics at the Rizal Memorial Gymnastics Center in Manila. The NCR meet is hosted by the Pasig City government and organized by the DepEd’s Pasig Division. Pasig City Mayor Bobby Eusebio, Rep. Roman Romulo (lone district), DepEd NCR Director Dr. Teresita Domalanta and Pasig Division Schools Superintendent Dr. Florentina Lizano will grace the opening ceremony. – GMANews.TV