PSC, POC team up for PNoy National Games

The nationwide games' revival is in full swing as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) announced the staging of the PNoy National Games on May 23 to 29 in Negros Occidental. PSC chairman Ricardo Garcia said that the national games will not only discover talents from the provinces but will also serve as a qualifying event for the national team bound for various international meets. "We will assure the participation of the national players here because this will serve as a qualifier for the Southeast Asian Games this year," Garcia said in a press briefing. "They really need to show that they deserve to be in the national team and show that they are really better than the unknowns." "This is an initial program of this new PSC administration, geared towards the development of the grassroots and the elite program," said POC chairman Monico Puentevella. Twenty-three national sports associations (NSAs) have confirmed their participation. The events include archery, athletics, bowling, dragon boat, equestrian, women's football, gymnastics, judo, karate, muay, pencak silat, sailing, sepak takraw, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, windsurfing, wushu, wrestling, and weightlifting. The PSC said that it hopes to fill the gap between the Palarong Pambansa athletes and the national team. "It doesn't compete with the Palaro but rather complements it. We hope that it becomes an annual event. And this is an exposure which is something that is desirable for the LGUs," said PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez. The PNoy National Games will be replacing the Philippine National Games which started in 1993 but was discontinued after the 1996 edition, The PSC expects 3,500 athletes, 450 coaches and 550 officials to participate in the games. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News