Team Luzon head concerned about athletes’ safety in Cebu

Because of the massive earthquake that devastated Central Visayas on Tuesday, the head of the Luzon Delegation to the upcoming fifth Milo Little Olympics National Finals which will be hosted by Cebu City expressed deep concern over the safety of her athletes competing in the Oct. 25-25 athletic meet.

Monday’s 7.2 magnitude quake left hundreds of people dead in the Visayas and toppled several heritage buildings in what authorities said was the deadliest temblor to hit the region in more than two decades.

Luzon delegation head Tess Bernardino said she was worried after she saw the devastation on TV and several networking sites.

“We would like to extend our sympathies to the victims of the earthquake, I hope tumigil na ang mga aftershocks para hindi maapektohan ang upcoming national finals dyan sa Cebu. Actually gustong-gusto namin bumalik dyan sa Cebu kasi ang ganda dyan. Kinabahan lang kami nang kunti matapos namin makita sa news ang pinsala ng lindol,” Bernardino told Cebu Daily News in an exclusive interview.

She however, told the parents of Team Luzon athletes that they will be safe in Cebu. They will be billeted at Sarrosa International Hotel in Mabolo upon their arrival on Oct. 23.

“The parents are really worried because of the earthquake but I tried to convince them and assure them that their child will be safe with us. We are very excited to come back to Cebu and show everyone that team Luzon has improved,” she added.

Luzon’s regional finals capped off last September in Baguio City with Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) bagging its seventh straight title and University of Baguio Laboratory Elementary School (UBLES) topping the elementary division.

Team Luzon finished fourth overall last year when Marikina City hosted the National Finals and where the National Capital Region (NCR) dethroned three-time champion Team Visayas.

Bernardino said that she would like to request for a formal announcement from Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama assuring that the city is safe for the multi-sporting competition.

STRONGER TEAM LUZON

Bernardino expressed confidence in Luzon’s volleyball and basketball teams that will compete head-to-head against NCR, Visayas and Mindanao in the three-day championships.

The secondary basketball team will be manned by the Angeles University Foundation while the Berkeley School of Baguio City will man Luzon’s elementary squad. Angeles University Foundation will man their volleyball teams.

She also revealed that most of the athletes who will represent Team Luzon in the National Finals are currently competing in the “Batang Pinoy 2013-Luzon Leg” in Iba, Zambales.

“Team Luzon athletes are constantly exposed to big competitions like Batang Pinoy and we advise our coaches to train their athletes hard for the National Milo Little Olympics. I think maganda ang kanilang ipapakita dyan sa Cebu,” said Bernardino.

Bernardino is pinning her gold medal hopes on Luzon’s swimming, taekwondo and athletics teams as well as in basketball and volleyball.