HCDC Cross Blazers Raise Region XI at National PRISAA 2026

Holy Cross of Davao College (#HCDC) once again showcased athletic excellence and competitive spirit as the Cross Blazers delivered a strong performance in the National PRISAA (Private Schools Athletic Association) Games 2026 held from May 9 to 16 in Bacolod City. Representing Region XI (Davao Region), the delegation secured an impressive 11th place overall among 17 competing regions nationwide, in a tournament participated in by over 12, 000 delegates.

The HCDC Cross Blazers made their mark across several sporting events, highlighted by the Women’s Basketball Team’s silver medal finish. The Men’s and Women’s Volleyball teams both landed in 4th place, while the Football Team also secured a 4th place finish. Other notable achievements included quarterfinal appearances in Men’s Basketball, Taekwondo, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, and Latin American Dance, as well as a semifinal finish in Modern Standard Dance.

In athletics, HCDC athletes also posted commendable performances. Milchay Moreno earned a 3rd place finish in the 400-meter dash, while Maxima Calabio placed 5th in the 100-meter dash and Evon Nigwa finished 6th as part of the 4×400-meter relay team.

According to Pochollo Elegino, Head of the HCDC Center for Wellness and Sports Excellence and one of the basketball team coaches, the Cross Blazers’ return to the national stage marked an important milestone for the institution and Region XI. He emphasized that the team’s performance reflects both the growth of the program and the commitment of the athletes and coaches despite the challenges of rebuilding and competing against more established programs nationwide.

Elegino also noted that while the team recognizes there is still room for improvement, especially in individual sports where medal opportunities are greater, the overall campaign was a positive step forward for the Cross Blazers. He stressed that developing a competitive sports program requires time, discipline, continuous training, and long-term investment.

“Our athletes are still growing, many of them are rookies, but this experience gave them valuable lessons and motivation to improve further,” he shared. “This is part of the journey in building stronger and more competitive teams for the future.”

Women’s Basketball Team Captain Lleonor Noquil shared that competing in PRISAA was both challenging and rewarding, especially for first-time participants.

“Our experience at PRISAA was very challenging and memorable for us first-timers. We realized how physically demanding and exhausting the competition was, but everything was worth it because we won the silver medal,” she said.

She also expressed gratitude to the HCDC community and the Cross Blazers family for their unwavering support throughout the competition.

“I am very happy and proud of our performance during the National PRISAA in Bacolod City because I saw how everyone gave their 100% efforts,” Noquil added.

“For next year’s PRISAA, we will continue the journey with greater self-discipline, confidence, and determination. We will keep pushing ourselves, trusting our abilities, and embracing every challenge as part of becoming stronger athletes. More importantly, we will continue to represent Holy Cross of Davao College with pride, heart, and passion.”