Sports

Executive Assistant Rhett Demonteverde, City Administrator Mark Mayo, Councilor Jason Villarosa, Girl Councilor Martha Agulan, Boy Mayor Humphrey Bayot and Mayor Greg Gasataya with PSE President Michael Herrera, Event Director Rachelle Villarosa, Pacifico Maghari III, Architect Cris Laino, and City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu (l-r) during the presentation of the proposed Sports Expo next year.*Bacolod City is gearing up for another major national sporting event, with the Philippine Sports Expo (PSE) currently in discussions to bring its national competitions to the city in April 2026.Mayor Greg Gasataya has expressed strong interest in hosting the first of its kind sports expo in Bacolod as the city continues to position itself as the sports capital of the region, a press rel...

The Panaad Aquatic Center in Bacolod City owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government will be the first regional training center for swimming in the country, Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) secretary general Eric Buhain said on Sunday, Nov. 17.PAI together with the Negros Occidental provincial government staged the 1st Governor Bong Lacson Swimming Cup participated in by more than 400 swimmers from various local government units in Negros Occidental at the newly opened Pana-ad Aquatic Center on Saturday and Sunday.“This milestone event gathered swimmers, coaches, and officials from across Negros Occidental — marking a strong step forward in elevating grassroots swimming,” the PAI said in a post on its Facebook page on Sunday, Nov. 16.PAI thanked Lacson, Provincial Admi...

PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio handed the ceremonial Batang Pinoy banner to Secretary to the Mayor Jose Marty Go.*The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced the return of the annual Batang Pinoy National Championships to Bacolod City during the closing ceremony of the Batang Pinoy 2025 in General Santos City on Thursday, October 30.PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio confirmed that Bacolod will be the host city for the Batang Pinoy National Championships 2026.It is a "fitting homecoming" for the City of Smiles, which hosted the inaugural Batang Pinoy in 1999 and again in 2001 and 2013, Gregorio said."It is just fitting for Bacolod to host the Batang Pinoy after several years, being among the pioneers of this grassroots sports program," Gregorio said."See you i...

Batang Pinoy 2025 gold medalist Psalm Pampag with coaches Jerry Belibestre, Girlie Inductivo and Miguel Arca (l-r) after capturing Bacolod City’s first gold.*Bagonhon Divine Andrea Pablito bagged the first gold at the ongoing Batang Pinoy 2025 National Championships in General Santos City.Pablito recorded 32.19 meters in Women’s Discus Throw earning her the game’s first gold medal. Bago City reported on Sunday, Oct. 26.Bacolod City also earned its first gold medal at the Batang Pinoy on Monday after young sprinter Psalm Pampag ruled the 200-meter dash (16-under girls) event at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex in Calumpang, General Santos City.Pampag trains under coaches Miguel Arca and Jerry Belibestre of RPMNHS, a school known for producing some of Bacolod’s most promisi...

The Unigames opening on Thursday.* Richard Malihan photo The role of sports in promoting unity was highlighted anew during the opening of the 26th Season of the Philippine University Games (Unigames) at the Capitol Lagoon and Park in Bacolod City on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23. This year’s edition, which marks the return of Unigames to its home city after 10 years, gathers more than 1,500 athletes and coaches from 41 colleges and universities across the country who will see action in the week-long competitions from Friday, Oct. 24, to  Oct. 30. In his message, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province opens its doors to the nation’s young athletes, noting that sports have always held a special place in the Philippine soc...

A send-off ceremony for the 166-member delegation of Bacolod City to the Batang Pinoy 2025 National Championships in General Santos City from October 25–31 was held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds Monday morning.The ceremony was held to introduce the 144 young athletes and 22 coaches who will represent Bacolod City, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.The delegation is geared to participate in 12 sports: aquatics/swimming, archery, athletics, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, futsal (boys and girls), gymnastics, Muay Thai, taekwondo, beach volleyball, and wushu.Mayor Greg Gasataya, in his address, conveyed his strong support to the athletes, urging them to compete with sportsmanship and pride.He also announced the City of Bacolod...

Marilou Lozada, Roger Banzuela, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bro. Felipe Belleza and Allen del Carmen (l-r) at the Unigames press conference at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Thursday.*More than 2,000 athletes and coaches from 35 schools from different parts of the country are expected to join the Philippine University Games (Unigames) in Negros Occidental in the last week of October.Negros Occidental will host the 26th Unigames to be held from October 24 to 30, with 1,770 athletes and 279 coaches expected.Roger Banzuela, president of the Unigames, said there are nine sporting events expected, including athletics, badminton, basketball, beach and indoor volleyball, futsal, football, table tennis, and taekwondo.Some of the venues for the games are the Panaad Park...

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) inspection team at the Multi-Purpose Center and Skatepark in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City.*BCCO photoA Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) inspection team arrived in Bacolod City this week to conduct an on-site assessment of facilities as the city vies to host the 2026 Batang Pinoy National Championships.This marks a potential return of the premier grassroots sports event to the city after more than a decade, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said on Thursday, October 9.The PSC delegation, which will also evaluate venues in Victorias City, a co-host, paid a courtesy call to Mayor Greg Gasataya before beginning their assessment, which runs until Saturday October 11.Gasataya confirmed initial meetings with...