For the second successive year, the athletic delegation of Catanduanes found itself stuck at 11th place in the overall standings at the conclusion of the Palarong Bicol 2026.
The islanders also saw their gold haul drastically reduced from the previous 11 to just seven (7) this year, results posted by the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office showed.
The locals garnered 12 silver medals and 30 bronzes from athletes that competed in the elementary and secondary levels.
The overall standings are as follows: 1- Naga City (77 golds-60 silvers-58 bronzes); 2 – Albay (65-66-80); 3 – Camarines Norte (56-64-62); 4 – Legazpi City (48-37-37); 5 – Camarines Sur (47-52-80); 6 – Masbate Province (46-28-45); 7 – Sorsogon Province (30-36-49); 8 – Ligao City (23-25-28); 9 – Tabaco City (21-26-28); 10 – Sorsogon City (20-25-17); 11 – Catanduanes (7-12-30); 12 – Iriga City (4-7-23); and 13 – Masbate City (2-10-21).
Catanduanes placed 10th with two golds, seven silvers and 10 bronzes in the elementary level ruled by Legazpi City and 11th with five golds, five silvers and 20 bronzes in the secondary level where Naga City came in first place.
In Paragames, it managed two golds, one silver and one bronze, compared to none a year ago.
Records show that the 2026 medal haul is also nine less than the 2024 harvest of 13 golds, 13 silvers and 32 bronzes that clinched 10th place for the islanders.
Palarong Pambansa silver medalist Dithrone Subion repeated his 2025 performance with a gold in U17 44-46 kg and gets a chance to avenge his defeat on the national stage in Agusan del Sur in May.
The softball secondary girls team delivered a surprise, dethroning 2025 champion Camarines Sur before edging Albay, 2-1, for the right to represent Bicol in the national games.
The team is composed of Angel Araojo, Jhanelle Avila, Madison Jade Bagadiong, Barn Clemente, Jennelyn David, Eden Joy Villena, Jessica Novelo, Kathleen Mae Padua, Daninn Tabian, Janine Tabian and Jeflyn Mae Valeza, with Efigenio Gianan Jr. as coach, Renz Reyes as assistant coach, and Cielo Buendia as chaperon.
In weightlifting secondary girls, Maryjoe Guerrero (53 kg.), Jessica Desusa (53+ kg) and Kyla Jean Tablate (40 kg) each won a gold medal, with Emy Rose Vergara as coach.
In chess standard elementary girls, Lysa Rose Omadto, coached by Shara May Omadto, showed promise with a gold medal, while in swimming elementary boys, Jhon Michael Nazareno stunned the crowd with a dominant win in the 400 meters freestyle.
The 5×5 basketball team lost by a mile to Naga City, 81-55, in the championship game but came away with the consoling thought of having made the finals after 11 years and earning a silver for their efforts.