More than 3,000 cadets-athletes throughout the region will flex muscles as the 2023 Reserves Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Games National Capital Region (NCR) Leg unfolds today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside the RMSC complex in Malate, Manila.
Sen. Imee Marcos has been invited as the keynote speaker but the organizer said the camp of the Presidential sister has yet to confirm her attendance.
Aside from Marcos, also gracing the opening ceremonies are Sen. Francis Tolentino, the brainchild of the event, and top officials of the Department of National Defense as well as the Commission on Higher Education and Philippine Sports Commission.
The ROTC cadets from various colleges and universities all over Metro Manila will pit skills in seven sports disciplines including volleyball, basketball, kickboxing, arnis, athletics, boxing, and E-sports.
Cadets from the Philippine Army are rearing to reaffirm their superiority over their counterparts from the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force.
The Army topped the Visayas Leg last August in Iloilo City with 25 golds, 25 silvers and 34 bronzes followed by Air Force with a 23-23-22 gold-silver-bronze haul and the Navymen settled to third with a 9-9-9 performance.
Army’s domination, however, was because they sent many more entries in all of the contested events over their counterparts.
They again collected 28 golds, 28 silvers, and 36 bronzes in the Mindanao Leg on Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 in Zamboanga City compared to 15 golds, 14 silvers, and 8 bronzes in the Air Force competition and 11-11-9 for the Navy.
The Luzon leg was participated by more than 1,000 participants on Sept. 17, to 23 in Tagaytay City also dominated by the Armymen.
After the NCR leg, the national finals will immediately follow on Oct. 22 to 27 in Marikina City. All gold medalists and silver medalists in the seven competing disciplines from the four qualifying regional events earned slots in the finals.
Tolentino said that the games will boost the pride and honor of the ROTC cadets.