TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte is now slowly making its mark in various athletic competitions not only in the country but even in international arenas. And this could be due to the rigid trainings that they undergo at the Leyte Sports Academy, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said during his speech on the 4th year founding anniversary of the LSA last August 19.
The LSA was conceived during the administration of former governor and now Energy Secretary Jericho Carlos Petilla designed to help aspiring and young athletes of the province to become competitive not only for national but international sports competitions. Gov. Petilla said that LSA with its sports scholarship program is now reaping the fruits of its efforts and investments based on the honors garnered by various athlete-students in different competitions.
He added that the scholars who graduated from LSA are invited and now in universities not only in Eastern Visayas but also in Metro Manila and other regions because “we are now meeting the standards of sports.” “Our athletes were never heard (before) because they did not excel in any athletic competition,” Petilla said. Petilla proudly reported that at the recent Palarong Pambansa held at Sta. Cruz Laguna on May 4-10 LSA scholars made a milestone for Leyte athletics. “Our scholars excelled with all other athletes in the division of Leyte and the whole Eastern Visayas region by garnering six gold medals, three silver medals and six bronze medals,” the governor said.
He added that in the Philippine National Games held at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, LSA scholars’ team also garnered 12 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 9 bronze medals.
Petilla also said that the recent 2014 PLDT-ABAP National Amateur Boxing championship in Digos City, Davao del Sur, the LSA scholars garnered a silver and bronze medals with two official qualifiers. He also reported that during the 2014 National Power lifting Championship held at Imus, Cavite on August 2-3, LSA scholars brought home again seven gold medals, three silver medals and two bronzes.
The LSA has already produced three national players who are members in the Philippine boxing team, Petilla further reported. “(And) one of our power lifters represented the Philippines in the 2013 Asian power lifting championship and won the bronze medal,” Petilla said. He concluded saying that another athlete from LSA is set to leave for Qatar to join the 2014 Asian athletic youth camp this coming September 1-14, 2014. (RESTITUTO CAYUBIT)
