THE road to victory was not easy for Negros Island Region’s sepak takraw team spearheaded by Victorias National High School (VNHS).
Pouring down all their efforts and energy in competing against four tough opponents in a day’s schedule was worth it after they bagged the 2017 Palarong Pambansa title at the Diosdado Macapagal Promotion Center in San Jose, Antique. The venue was 36 kilometers from their billeting area in Tobias Fornier, Antique.
En route to the finals, the Alex Villaester-mentored Negrenses routed Bicol Region (2-0), Mimaropa (2-1), and Zamboanga Peninsula (2-1).
NIR had to beat Ilocos Region, 2-1, its last elimination round foe and followed it up with a rousing victory over National Capital Region in the quarterfinals, 2-0.
On the same day, the Negrenses outplayed and eventually dethroned erstwhile champions Western Visayas, 2-0, before defeating Davao Region in the finals, 2-1.
For VNHS principal Cheryl Tondo, the boys stood against the fortitude of time, displayed strength of character and portrait of true sportsmen.
“Thank you to all who believed that we can make it. Thank you to all who supported the team,” she said. “It was a game of pure determination. Taking back what used to be ours and putting up all forces to support the team.”
Tondo added that her players’ skills in the sport can be a passport in their college studies.
“As I always said that an athlete must be academically honed,” she said.
The champion team is composed of Victorias' June Clyde Abellano, Edrhic Dave Balderas, John Erickson Balderas, Ricky Guarino, Christian Kyle Layson, and Ian Gerald Sudayan, Murcia’s Kervy Jules Cayetano, Ralph Christian Enriquez, and Renz Jay Velasco and Bacolod City’s Paul John Embahador, John Paul Malubay and Peter Paul Malubay. (HGD)