Pressure is a Privilege: An Analysis of Siargao’s Performance in the 2023 CAA-RSC 

By: Charmaine Rose C. Mahomoc

Siargao Athletic Delegation culminated its campaign at the 2023 Caraga Athletic Association – Regional Sports Competition (CAA-RSC) with a staggering 57-medal count – marking its highest finish in the history of the regional sports showcase.  

With this successful stint comes the pressure of pushing hard this year to outdo the delegation’s performance in the CAA-RSC 2023. 

Being seventh in the rankings last year, it is apt to examine the division’s strengths and areas for improvement to set the tone for this year’s Siargao Division Athletic Meet (SDAM).  

While it’s not surprising the gymnastics team lifted Siargao in the rankings, amassing the most number of medals (13 golds, 24 silvers, 20 bronzes), what left everyone in awe is the fact that almost all the team’s athletes were first timers in the regional sports competition.  

This incredible feat highlighted the island’s growing reputation as a breeding ground for exceptional gymnasts. It, however, places added pressure on the shoulders of the team’s coaches and trainers for this year’s SDAM and CAA-RSC.  

Pressure was also the driving force for the delegation’s table tennis, badminton, and athletics teams as they attempted to surpass their previous years’ performances in the regional sports conclave. This served advantageous for Siargao Division as the said teams garnered 2 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals, with table tennis setting its highest placement in the delegation’s history.  

Along with the wins from Wushu, the athletes of Arnis and Chess also contributed to the delegation’s medal tally.  

If there is one thing clear with Siargao’s track record of wins in the region’s sports meet, it is the reality that the delegation excels in individual sports alone; it is unfortunate that over the years, the division almost never gets a podium finish in team sports.  

Will this year’s Siargao Division Athletic Meet change this? It is undeniably high time for Siargao’s coaches and officials to give added attention to creating training programs that promote teamwork and discipline among athletes in team sports.  

This year’s division athletic meet, as the base for talent identification, selection, and training of student-athletes to represent in the 2024 CAA-RSC, adds pressure on Siargao’s prime movers, both DepEd and Local Government Units.  

It poses the question of how to sustain the delegation’s momentum in the CAA-RSC ranking. But as Billie Jean King had stated, “pressure is a privilege." The challenges and high expectations in sports should be seen as opportunities rather than burdens. 

This kind of pressure would likely drive Siargao to keenly identify the key areas of performance requiring attention, evaluate the tactical and technical support, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of oppositions.  

Pressure is a privilege.  

It may be our toughest rival, but it is also the force that ignites something extraordinary in us in the face of adversity. Because for every serve, every running step, every point, pressure lets the Siargaonon athlete find the power to move forward.