LEGAZPI CITY -- Albay province reclaimed the top spot at Palarong Bicol, surpassing 12 other delegations with a final medal count of 76 gold, 81 silver, and 82 bronze over the weekend.
Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda celebrated the performance of Albay's elementary and high school athletes, who last dominated the regional games in 2014 when he was governor.
Salceda said the victory has once again awakened the “intrinsic strength of the Albayano team.” He pledged to include sports under his Global Albay program if elected governor in the 2025 midterm polls.
“Physical superiority, intellectual superiority and their derivative strengths that spring from unity in passion and pursuit of goals, pride of place, competitive spirit and inner character explain it all,” Salceda said of the Albay athletes.
During his tenure as governor, Salceda supported well-being programs for Albay and advocated for increased funding for the team's training, food, allowances, incentives, and equipment to boost morale.
Naga City finished second in the overall standings with 72 gold, 69 silver, and 59 bronze medals, while Camarines Norte placed third with 60 gold, 44 silver, and 76 bronze.
All participating delegations won medals in the various sporting events, which included taekwondo (including poomsae), arnis, badminton, baseball, softball, football, billiards, chess, boxing, table tennis, lawn tennis, basketball (including 3x3), swimming, volleyball, wushu, futsal, archery, gymnastics, dancesport, wrestling, and sepak takraw.
Meanwhile, Camarines Sur dominated the Para Games with a medal tally of 24 gold, 10 silver, and seven bronze.