Palaro 2025 Awaits the Ascendancy of Davraa Eagles
Prepping for glory: Davraa athletes gear up in Davao City
It's full steam ahead for the Davraa athletes as they kick off their in-house training in Davao City, starting May 3, 2025. With their sights set on the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, these athletic warriors are gearing up for a grueling yet exhilarating battle.
Spilling the beans to our friendly neighborhood website, Davao, DepEd regional director Allan Farnazo shared that the majority of Davraa's whopping 723-strong delegation is currently billeted at Mintal Elementary School and Mintal Comprehensive High School in Davao City. Swimmers, however, are taking advantage of the Olympic-sized pool at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City to get their aquatic game on.
"Our athletes are deep in preparation for the Palaro, where we are targeting an overall third-place finish," Farnazo said, with a fierce determination echoing in his voice. The in-house training will wrap up before the delegation departs for Laoag, ensuring peak performance when it matters most.
The talented troupe, including athletes, coaches, chaperones, and technical officials, are expected to hit the road in multiple batches between May 17 and 20, leaving from the Davao International Airport. Farnazo went on to reveal that venturing to Laoag would necessitate most of the delegation to transit through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City due to limited direct flights.
When asked about the choice of Davao City for in-house training over nearby Davao del Norte, Farnazo emphasized the city's proximity to the airport, making logistics a breeze.
The social preparation of the athletes is of utmost importance, stresses Farnazo. He observes the athletes performing during dinner as part of their social preparation, an essential aspect of mental and emotional readiness for the games. "If a child gets rattled even by spectators shouting or criticizing, they won't perform well," he commented, expressing pride in the Davraa Eagles – known for their disciplined nature, having been recognized as the Most Disciplined Delegation in the past two editions of the Palarong Pambansa.
Boosting the social, emotional, mental, physical, and moral readiness of the athletes, guidance counselors are a crucial element in the team's arsenal, according to Farnazo. Hoping to continue their disciplined streak, Farnazo confidently declared, "We want to see our athletes enter the Palaro as morally, physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally prepared as possible."
Davao City also serves as a training base for Cebu, with their football team joining the Davraa athletes for preparation. The football team will make use of the Gerry Ransolstad Sports Complex, a well-known training ground in Davao City.
Emphasizing the significance of holistic development, Farnazo reveals plans to introduce educational workshops as part of the in-house training. These workshops aim to not only boost the athletic performance of the students but also equip them with essential knowledge for future endeavors.
Motivated by the prospect of scholarly success, some athletes are considering dual-career opportunities around sports and academics, with the Palarong Pambansa serving as an opportunity to showcase their versatility. Amoung the athletes looking to pursue dual careers are the goalkeeper from Mintal Elementary School and the striker from Mintal Comprehensive High School, both staunch enthusiasts of football.
