TACLOBAN CITY — Determined to keep its winning streak alive, Ormoc City has intensified training for the upcoming Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet 2026, with athletes undergoing daily drills and conditioning sessions since January.
Training camps at the Ormoc City Sports Complex and other venues are now in full swing as student-athletes prepare to defend the city’s overall championship title — a crown Ormoc has held since 2018.
Coaches said this year’s preparations are more challenging, with several teams fielding mostly new players following the graduation of veteran athletes.
“The hardest part, if most of your athletes are new, you really need to go back to square one,” said Ricardo Jose Eduardo Martinez III, secondary badminton tournament director. “But through constant training, they can also win medals.”
Baseball trainer Johannes Ivan Montebon noted that only two members remain from their previous lineup, but the team remains determined to replicate its past podium finishes.
Athletes begin their day before sunrise with conditioning runs, followed by sport-specific drills and afternoon scrimmages. Recovery methods such as ice baths are also being introduced, while nutrition and rest are closely monitored.
City officials said full logistical and technical support is being provided to ensure the delegation is competition-ready as EVRAA 2026 approaches.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
