SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) serves as a launching pad for student-athletes in realizing their Olympic dream.
This is according to Commissioner Edward Hayco of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in a press conference, June 11, prior to the start of the 2024 Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association (WVPRISAA) Meet.
In view of the 2024 WVPRISAA Meet held in this province from June 12-15, Hayco urged student-athletes to not settle with the regional or national games and instead aim as high as representing the country in international events such as the Olympics.
He then told student-athletes to take inspiration from weightlifter and the country’s first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, among many others, who also started her professional career in sports as a PRISAA athlete.
With this, Hayco underscored the importance of PRISAA as a valuable partner of the PSC in producing world-class athletes capable of putting the name of the country on the global stage.
Further, the official stressed that there is plenty of potential and talent outside the big cities waiting to be discovered and given the chance to rise in various sporting competitions, noting that approximately 80-90 percent of national athletes come from the provinces.
As commissioner, Hayco intends to strengthen the PSC’s grassroots sports development program to open more opportunities for underprivileged student-athletes, developing and guiding them toward sporting excellence.
In pursuit of sporting excellence in Region 6, over 1,300 coaches and student-athletes from 45 private academic institutions joined the 2024 WVPRISAA Meet held at St. Anthony’s College and the Binirayan Sports Complex in the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista.
Winners in different sporting competitions of the WVPRISAA Meet will represent Region 6 at the National PRISAA Games 2024 scheduled on July 20-26 in Legazpi City, Albay.
Some of the notable officials present at the Regional Games were WVPRISAA consultant Dr. Cristy Laurente, PSC Consultant for Grassroots Program Bernardino Ricablanca, PRISAA Executive Director Elbert Atilano, WVPRISAA Co-Chair Robert Parcia, and WVPRISAA Vice President for Antique Rev. Fr. Edione Febrero. (AGP/BPS/PIA Antique)
