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)

The Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PHILSCA) of the Airforce and Rizal Technological University from the Philippine Army start their campaign in volleyball on Sunday night (Oct. 22) right after the elaborate opening ceremony of the inaugural Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games National Finals at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The protagonists (Philsca and RTU) test their mettle in the lone volleyball match at 6:00 p.m., or shortly after the opening rites.

No less than Kimberly Anne Custodio, the 2022 World Jiujitsu Champion, will administer the Oath of Sportsmanship to more than 800 student cadets – all medalists – from four regional legs in the Visayas (Iloilo City), Mindanao (Zamboanga City), Luzon (Cavite) and NCR (Manila).

“This is it. Magkakaalam na tayo rito kung sino talaga ang kampeon. After the four previous leg, talaga namang nakita natin yung kagandahan ng may kooperasyon at pagkakaisa. May mga problema, pagkukulang and shortcomings but the organizers and the technical officials worked so hard to make sure na may maayos tayong Palaro,” said Senator Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino, the brainchild of the program to instill discipline, unity, and camaraderie to ROTC cadets through sports.

“It is also a way to help sports associations in their talent identification program,” Tolentino added.

Action in other sports – athletics, arnis, boxing, basketball (3×3), kickboxing, and esports – blasts off Monday in different venues inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RSMC) in Malate, Manila.

Aside from Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann will deliver an inspirational message as well as the other members of the Executive Organizing Committee Member Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro during the opening ceremony.

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez, Jr. is also expected to attend the opening rites together with Local Government Unit (LGU’s) representatives, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials, and school administrators in the opening program.

Also expected to grace the affair are the winners in the Ms. ROTC Games – the side event of the program. The coronation was still ongoing as of posting time on Saturday.

The opening ceremony is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m. but the Astrodome gate will be opened as early as 12 noon, and entrance is free.

(AI/MNM)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Western Mindanao State University stamped its class over Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College (RMMC), 25-7, 25-14, 25-14, to secure the women’s volleyball gold medal in the Philippine Air Force category of the 1st Philippine Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Games Mindanao leg at Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU) here on Saturday.

Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College bagged the bronze medal after a dominant 25-0, 25-0, 25-7 victory over HMIJ Foundation – Philippine Islamic College, Inc.

Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) and ZPPSU were champions in the Philippine Army and Philippine Navy volleyball categories, respectively; while in men’s 3×3 basketball, RMMC claimed the gold for Philippine Army.

Army delivered 28 golds, 28 silvers and 36 bronzes to emerge overall champion.

Navy placed second with 15 golds, 14 silvers and 8 bronzes while Air Force collected 11 golds, 11 silvers and 9 bronzes.

“Walang pag-aalinlangan na ang naganap na ROTC Games sa Zamboanga City ay nagbukas ng maraming pagkakataon sa ating mga kabataang kadete na ma-ipamalas ang kanilang pambihirang lakas at makapaghikayat ng suporta ng pamahalaan upang higit pa silang makapagsanay at maging mas mahusay pa sa kanilang napiling larangan (There is no doubt that the ROTC Games that took place in Zamboanga City opened many opportunities for our young cadets to show their extraordinary strength and to encourage the support of the government so that they can train more and become better in their chosen field),” Games’ honorary chair Senator Francis Tolentino said in his speech at the closing ceremony.

He thanked the local government, Department of National Defense, Commission on Higher Education and Philippine Sports Commission for pouring in “their time and energy to ensure that the first ever ROTC Games will be held successfully.”

The Luzon regional qualifying will be held Sept. 17 to 23 at Cavite State University main campus in Indang town.

The schedules of the National Capital Region leg and the National Championships will be announced soon. (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Three cadets from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology won gold medals in arnis full-contact padded stick competition of the 1st Philippine Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Games Mindanao leg at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Gym here on Friday.

Joseph Falcasantos (men’s featherweight), Elijah Yuan Sanchez (men’s welterweight) and Nayka Marie Acoyado (women’s lightweight) — all competing in the Philippine Navy category — have earned slots in the National Championships.

Other winners were Jay Mark Datahan (men’s lightweight), Via Mea Mejias (women’s featherweight) and Angelfe Mosendo (women’s welterweight) of Davao del Norte State College.

In the Philippine Army category, the winners were Kent Declard Lagoy (men’s welterweight) and Gian Llanos (women’s featherweight) of JH Cerilles State College; Francisco Carballo Jr. (men’s featherweight) and Ivy Jane Fernandez (women’s lightweight) of Intao Community College; and Walter Sam Jr. of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

Champions in the Philippine Air Force category were Western Mindanao State University students Clarence Ronolo (men’s featherweight), Laurence Pineda (men’s welterweight), Bernalyn Jhoy Nicdao (women’s featherweight), Sarah Graciano (women’s lightweight) and Arabella Marquez (women’s welterweight).

The Philippine ROTC Games is a collaboration of the Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education and Department of National Defense.

The next leg will be the Luzon regional qualifying scheduled from Sept. 17 to 23 at the Cavite State University main campus in Indang, Cavite to be followed by the National Capital Region leg and the National Championships. (PNA)