Cavite delegates arrive late for PRISAA – natl’s due to delayed flight
Affected by the delayed flights yesterday in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, the Cavite squad arrived just this afternoon in Koronadal City, South Cotabato during the first day of the games of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) – Nationals today, April 4, causing the tracksters to miss a match while the tankers lacked rest and preparation. Despite the situation, the paddlers managed to draft a good headstart.
As the DLSU-D swimming team arrived two hours before the actual game, lady tankers team captain Nicholai Jaafar managed to singlehandedly lift the Patriot pride with a bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley race during the first day of the competition held at the Southern Cotabato Sports Complex.
Due to their delayed flight yesterday, Jaafar mentioned that it splashed a downward impact to the tankers’ performance. “No’ng Sunday pa lang reding-ready na kami, nag-wake up kami ng early [so] puyat na puyat kami [and] the entire day (Sunday), nag-wait kami sa airport. The entire team is tired [and] sleep-deprived. Nawalan [din] kami ng training, two days kaming walang training, so ang titigas ng muscles namin. So pagdating namin kanina, kumain lang kami ng saglit, then lahat ng players naglaro agad. Super big impact ‘yon (delayed flight) ngayon sa game namin. We’re expecting medals for tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the Patriot tracksters achieved a mixed outcome during day one of the athletics events at the Southern Cotabato Sports Complex.
Veteran sprinter Alvin Valdenarro failed to defend his title in the 100-meter sprint event after losing by default while Lady Patriot Felyn Dolloso bagged the first gold medal for DLSU-D athletics team in the long jump category.
The games for the swimming and athletics event will continue tomorrow until April 6.
Despite the late arrival of the Cavite representatives, Region 4-A CALABARZON succeeded in their first day matches in the PRISAA – Nationals at the Southern Cotabato Elementary School as their games were moved in the afternoon.
For the team event, the CALABARZON paddlers, composed of DLSU-D Patriot Marthy del Rosario and University of Batangas (UB) Brahmans Carlos Antonio Marasigan, John Marty Villanueva and Jaweh Mayuga, claimed a 2-0 record against Region 12.
On the other hand, the women’s squad, represented by Lady Patriot Rosalyn Zapanta and Lady Brahmans Mary Maye Igno, Cristine Manalo, and Kriska Ravanes, tasted victory after thrashing Region 3, then succumbed to a defeat in the hands of Region 11.
The Region 4-A paddlers will face Region 1 for the team event tomorrow, April 5, while the individual event will also commence in the same day.
