ACTION in athletics, boxing, and volleyball heats up on Monday, Oct. 23, in the 2023 ROTC Games National Championships in various Metro Manila venues.

Four gold medals are at stake at the Philsports Track Oval in Pasig City as cadet-athletes compete in the men’s and women’s 200 meters, as well as men’s and women’s 4x100m relay.

Heats in the said four events are scheduled to start at 7 a.m., with the finals happening at 3 p.m.

Elimination bouts in boxing also fire off starting at 2 p.m. at the Dacudao Court inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, even as volleyball hostilities start at 9 a.m. at the Technological State University Gym in Manila.

Raising the curtain in volleyball is Adamson University against Tanauan Institute, followed by Jose Rizal Memorial State University against Tarlac State University.

Guimaras State University and the University of Cagayan Valley follow suit, before the Northern Iloilo State University-Rizal Technological University tussle.

Capping off the day’s matches is the duel between the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos against TSU and Adamson over JRMSU.

Weigh-in and weapons check, as well as pairing and matching are set for arnis at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, even as the drawing of lots and solidarity meetings are scheduled for kickboxing and esports.

The weeklong tournament formally opened on Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Cuneta Astrodome presided over by Sen. Francis Tolentino and other government agency officials like Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann.

“I am excited to see so many talented athletes from all corners of our nation, competing with the same spirit of unity that binds our diverse archipelago together,” said Bachmann. (ai/mnm)