Davao City - Host province Davao de Oro yesterday sought the help of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William I. Ramirez to improve its overall ranking in the upcoming Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet 2020, which was reset to April 1 to 7 in the Municipality of Montevista.

Davao de Oro provincial sports coordinator Miles Atugan, accompanied by sports coordinators of different towns and municipalities of the province, “Chairman gusto ni Gov. (Jayvee Tyron) Uy na magpatabang ungta mi sa PSC para ma-train among mga coaches and athletes para musaka among ranking sa DAVRAA Meet kay kami man gud ang mag-host (Chairman, Gov. Uy wants PSC’s help to train our coaches and athletes to improve our Davraaa Meet ranking since we are this year’s host),” Atugan said, adding that the province only ranked ninth in the 2019 regional meet.

Ramirez, who took note of the sports that Davao de Oro wanted to focus on for the DAVRAA Meet, told Catugan to prioritize medal-rich sports instead of the popular ball games.

The PSC chief committed to send coaches and trainers in basketball, volleyball, football, boxing, swimming, athletics, table tennis, archery, taekwondo, and arnis, among others for a coaches’ education and sports clinics for the DAVRAA-bound Davao de Oro athletes in March.

Ramirez also underscored to the sports coordinators the importance of leadership in training athletes.

“For you to succeed in sports, unang istoryahan leadership jud. Kung leadership dili maayo, dili jud mag-prosper (Leadership is important to succeed in sports. If there is no leadership, nothing will prosper). Coach leadership, discipline and character are vital in producing competitive and champion athletes,” Ramirez said.

He also challenged Davao de Oro to improve its DAVRAA ranking to number five, adding, “Ungta after aning training program, muasaka najud mo (I hope you will become number five).”

Atugan, meanwhile, said, “Lipay kaayo ko tungod kay makapangayo mi og trainors for DAVRAA na gicommit jud ni Chairman. Kami tanan we are inspired para mapadayin among kausa, among goals og mga plano para sa mga kabataan sa Davao de Oro (I’m so glad that the Chairman committed to help us for our DAVRAA preparation. We are inspired to be even more united in our goals and plans for the youth of Davao de Oro).”

Davao City is the perennial DAVRAA Meet champion.