Palarong Pambansa back in July in Marikina

AFTER a three-year hiatus due to the lethal COVID-19 pandemic, the Palarong Pambansa will return this year with Marikina as the host city, according to the Department of Education.

The multi-sporting event will be held from July 29 to August 5, with regional jousts set on February 6 to 10 and April 24 to 28 as recommended by the Palarong Pambansa Secretariat.

The pre-qualifying tourneys will only feature team sports such as baseball, basketball, football, futsal, sepak takraw, football, and volleyball.

Delegations will be clustered into four groups based on their geographical location, with Cluster 1 made up of the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region; Cluster 2 is Calabarzon, Mimaropa, NCR, and Bicol Region; Cluster 3 is Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula Region; and Cluster 4 is Northern Mindanao, Davao,

STORY BY FRANCESCA ALEXIS AMOR LUYA AND KRISTINA CZARINA TRINIDAD

SOCCKSARGEN, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The DepEd said the top two regional delegations per cluster will gain slots to the Palarong Pambansa.

"The modified competition format aims to prevent the disruption of classes and to observe minimum public health and safety protocols… and other relevant policies and guidelines issued," it said.

Measurable sports such as athletics, swimming, and archery will adopt the qualifying distance, time, and points set by the Palarong Pambansa.

Aside from student-athletes from the 17 DepEd regional athletic associations, Filipino athletes enrolled in recognized schools overseas will also be allowed to see action in individual sports under the banner of Philippine Schools Overseas.

The last Palarong Pambansa was held in Davao City in 2019.

SPRUCING UP: The Marikina Sports Center gets a face-lift for its hosting of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa on July 29 to Aug. 15 as confirmed the Department of Education. The Palaro is making a comeback after being mothballed for three years due to the pandemic.

So Close Yet So Far

From page 20

In the second match, the Angels tripped the HD Spikers 25-21, 27-25, and 37-35, in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals.

All of the teams are eager and ready to win the game, but there is one who will lose and win. I enjoyed watching all of the rallies, giving me inspiration to continue what I started. I don’t know when it will happen again, but I’m sure the time will come, and I will not waste my opportunity because that is the time that I’m really waiting for. I’m waiting to be ready, waiting for the time that I’m sure I will show people, especially myself, that I know I can. Every person can. There was a ball that touched my shoes after I entered our house. I looked down and saw a kid apologizing because the ball hit me. The child ran and went to her mother. Looking at her from afar and her looking back at me, I can finally say… The comeback is near.

Mateo shone with 19 points, five assists, and two steals for the Novaliches-based DGS cagers.

Mac Kenzie Maca also had 18 markers, 15 boards and four blocks, while John Paul Sadiwa added 15 and six for the Stallions.

DGS coach Miguel Borilla lauded his charges’ steely resolve.

“Maganda sobra ang pinakita nila, natutuwa ako dahil na-apply nila lahat ng plays na naituro ko. Medyo nahirapan lang noong 3rd quarter pero binawi sa pangunguna ng first five namin, grabe iyong clutch genes nila,” Borilla said. “Pero dapat hindi sila makampante dahil sa panalo, kailangan sa susunod hindi na close game at mas huge ang gap para hindi na sila mahirapan down the stretch.

“I have to give props to the opponen, pinahirtsapan nila kami ng sobra and napaka-effective ng mga plays sa kanila ng coach nila,” he added.

Cody Adoracion paced the Blue Angels with a near triple double of 28 points, eight dimes, and eight rebounds.