Despite playing in hostile territory, Team NCR says it won’t give up title that easily

Defending champion National Capital Region (NCR) expects a tough fight from a homecourt-toting and inspired Team Visayas but remains optimistic that it will walk away with the title in the 5th edition of the National Milo Little Olympics.
The annual multi-sporting event begins with a simple opening ceremony featuring presentations from cultural dance groups and singing groups showcasing Cebu’s heritage at 3 p.m. today.
NCR ended Team Visayas’ streak in this national meet last year when in took the crown in Marikina City. Visayas won the crown in the first three editions of the prestigious event.
The Visayas team is favored to regain the crown since it is playing at home soil but Team NCR has other things in mind.
“Being a champion felt so good, so we will not give up the title easily,” NCR delegation head Dr. Robert Milton Calo said.
Calo said he is well-aware of the fact that some of the members of Team Visayas have been affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Oct. 15 and supertyphoon “Yolanda” last Nov. 8 and is impressed by their resilience and ability  to bounce  back and continue training and working for the team in preparation for this weekend’s meet.
“ I’m so happy and impressed that despite the calamities team Visayas faced, they remained resilient and strong,” Calo said.
Calo knows that Team Visayas may use the calamities as a source of motivation for the meet, which is the reason why he is expecting a tough battle ahead. He also said playing in hostile territory makes the task of defending the crown even harder.
“Team Visayas may have the homecourt advantage but we will make sure that we will not give up the title easily.”
For Milo Assistant Vice President and Sports Executive Andrew Neri, meanwhile, said the national meet will serve as the first step for young Filipino student athletes to show the world how resilient Filipinos are after the calamities that ravaged the country in the past month.
“ We have to uplift the spirits of the athletes who are still down because of the supertyphoon and the earthquake,” he said  during yesterday’s final press conference at the Sarossa International Hotel. “We have to work together and show resiliency and show that we are in control and let God control the rest.”
Joining Neri were Visayas delegation head Ricky Ballesteros, Calo,  Luzon’s delegation head Tess Bernardino and Mindanao delegation head Megdonio Llamera.
Balleteros said Visayas’ performance last year was not good enough. He said they learned a lot from their mistakes last year and made the necessary adjustments. He also said the entire team is highly motivated after surviving the earthquake and supertyphoon.
“I think the strongest typhoon in the world and the 7.2-magnitude quake strengthened team Visayas,” Ballesteros said.  “I can say that we are very ready to face NCR this weekend.”
The core of team Visayas will be made up of athletes from newly-crowned regional champs University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department (USC-BED). They will be backed by 17-time Milo Regional champions University of Cebu (UC).
Team Luzon and Mindanao, on the other hand, are looking for a decent finish.
“97 percent of our athletes have come to Cebu to compete and some were not able to because their parents won’t let them because of the calamities that happened here. But I am very confident with my swimmers and taekwondo team,” said Bernardino.
The National Milo meet was originally scheduled for  Oct. 18 to 20 but was moved due to the earthquake and the typhoon.
The opening will be solemn and simple but still colorful in deference to those affected by the earthquake and supertyphoon.