Zamboanga City proved its athletic supremacy once again, bagging the overall championship at the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association (ZPRAA) Meet 2026 held in Isabela City, Basilan this April.
The city athletes hauled in an impressive 148 gold medals, 96 silver, and 92 bronze, marking the third consecutive year that Zamboanga City ranked first in the regional meet.
Zamboanga City was followed by the Zamboanga Del Norte-Dipolog City-Dapitan City Athletic Association with 125 gold, 119 silver, and 118 bronze. In third place was the Zamboanga del Sur Athletic Association with 91 gold, 103 silver, and 94 bronze. Pagadian City ranked fourth with 24 gold, 54 silver, and 73 bronze, while Zamboanga Sibugay placed fifth with 24 gold, 41 silver, and 74 bronze. Host Isabela City finished with 22 gold, 15 silver, and 50 bronze.
Sulu, which used to be part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, landed last in the overall tally but earned the loudest applause. The delegation won 2 gold medals in Volleyball Boys, along with six silver and 15 bronze.
Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman praised the Sulu delegation, noting the strong presence of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Toto Tan II and 11 out of 19 town mayors who came to support their athletes. Your presence underscores a united commitment to nurturing young athletes, strengthening camaraderie, and championing sportsmanship, she said.
This was the first time that Isabela City hosted the ZPRAA Meet, making the event a milestone for the host city. Zamboanga City three-year reign at the top reflects the city strong investment in youth sports development and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of Filipino athletes.
Source: MindaNews, April 12, 2026.