CVisayas youth skips to 2nd 

from 6th in PRISAA '17 finish 

TAGBILARAN CITY, May 9 (PIA)--Region 7 Central Visayas youth players jumped over four regional competing teams to land in second place place from a 6th place finish in the 2017 national games for Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) national games last year in Iba, Zambales. 

Handicapped by lack of players due to the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa, Central Visayas bowed to Region 8 Western Visayas over some 90 gold medal deficit but rejoiced in its to 2nd place finish in the youth division of the recently concluded PRISAA national games here in Tagbilaran City April 22-27. 

Still sore from the lingering pain of the Palarong Pambansa which happened in Vigan City a week before, most of Central Visayan athletes aged 17 years old and under simply could not effectively prop up the medal campaign to unseat Western Visayas, according to Achiles Amores, Bohol PRISAA Sports Executive Director and sports coordinator. 

Meanwhile, Western Visayas routed the youth PRISAA national games delegations with a convincing 141 gold, 63 silver and 39 bronze finishes as against its closest contender Central Visayas which only managed to pick 51 gold, 27 silver and 20 bronze medals to settle for the second best. 

Region XI Davao Region in fact rallied and came dangerously close to Central Visayas, finishing up with 42 gold, 38 silver and 55 bronze for a strong third finish in the games that started April 22-27, 2018 in Bohol. 

Central Visayas could only heap gold in youth weightlifting with 33 gold and 18 silver and placed third in swimming after capping 15 gold medals, 8 silver medals and 3 bronze medals, after Region XI Davao which had 19 gold, 20 silver and 19 bronze. 

Western Visayas also reigned in swimming scooping out 32 gold medals, 16 silver and 18 bronze medals, in athletics with a 25, 18, 18 gold, silver, bronze finishes. 

Central Visayas standing however proved to be much better than expected. 

The regional team, possibly boosted by home crowd's prodding and their familiarity to the home courts played the advantage when they unseated Region III Central Luzon, which ranked second in the 2017 PRISAA NG youth division in Iba Zambales. 

Central Visayas, who could only settle for the sixth place in the youth category in 2017 games bagging home only 16 golds, 20 silver medals and 7 bronze medals during last year's sports competitions, did a superb performance leaping over 4 notches this year, Amores pointed out. 

Aside from unseating Central Luzon, Central Visayan youth also beat Region IX Western Mindanao who could only get 7 gold, 36 silver and 13 bronze medals this year. 

Central Visayas also stepped past Region 11, who used to be in the 5th place in 2017. 

The Region 7's performance this year however is propped up by medals earned by then the Negros Island Regional, who used to play as a separate delegation in 2017 and which placed third then. 

This year in Tagbilaran, Region II Cagayan Valley reaped 15-32-24 gold-silver-bronze to place fourth, while Central Luzon brought home 15-42-32 medal slate to earn this year's 5th place in the PRISAA youth division. 

In the seniors Division or athletes 18 years old and above, Central Visayas reigned supreme in the 6 day multi-sports meet in separate venues in Tagbilaran and in nearby towns. 

Central Visayas seniors claimed the 2018 championship trophy when they completed their 4th championship winning streak and 7th championship crown in the tournament's history. 

Central Visayas only rested after earning a 143, 65, 53 gold-silver and bronze medal finish at the close of the games. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)