Unit 1 has successfully defended its overall championship title in the recently concluded Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet for the 2025-2026 school year, cementing its status as the dominant force in local sports competitions.
Dominant Medal Haul Secures Victory
Unit 1 closed the weeklong competition held from November 13 to 19, 2025, with an impressive medal tally of 105 golds, 56 silvers, and 106 bronzes. This performance marked a slight improvement from their previous showing in February 2025, where they secured 104 gold medals, 69 silvers, and 65 bronzes.
The champion unit demonstrated remarkable versatility across multiple sports disciplines. Their gold medals came from strong performances in arnis where they collected 33 golds, gymnastics with 11 golds, swimming contributing 10 golds, along with significant victories in tennis, taekwondo, athletics, sepak takraw, volleyball, boxing, basketball, chess, badminton, table tennis, and billiards.
The para games team made substantial contributions to the overall victory, adding 22 golds, 10 silvers, and 12 bronzes to Unit 1's impressive medal count.
Rising Stars Shine in Competition
At the Davao del Sur Sports Complex pool in Digos City, fourteen-year-old swimming sensation Paulette Xavier Apilado from Davao City National High School delivered an outstanding performance that significantly contributed to Unit 1's championship defense.
The Grade 9 student dominated the secondary girls' category, securing five gold medals in the 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley, 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter backstroke, and the 4x50 freestyle relay with teammates Gwen Stefani Pansit, Xhantine Sienna Matute, and Ashly Jeanes Cubelo. She additionally earned one silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke and one bronze in the 4x100 medley relay.
"I feel great and thankful," Apilado shared with reporters. "My times are better now compared to previous competitions." The young athlete reflected on her growth since her 2024 performance where she won four golds and three silvers, expressing gratitude to her coaches and school mentors for their continuous support.
Arnis Dominance and Team Rankings
Unit 1 continued its traditional strength in arnis, nearly sweeping all gold medals across various weight divisions and events. In the secondary boys' division, multiple athletes stood out including pinweight John Michael Saragena, bantamweight Alexander James Catarinen, featherweight John Clifford Anajao, extra lightweight Venjie Jr. Delima, and half lightweight Aethan Razy Fujita.
The secondary girls' arnis contingent matched this dominance with exceptional performances from bantamweight Xheana Leigh Cabe, featherweight Ariane Kaye Parami, half-lightweight Rheanne Audrey Fujita, and extra-lightweight Beyonce Heart Salasayo. These athletes, along with Angeline Paramo, secured additional individual and team golds in Solo Baston, Double Baston, and Espada y Daga events.
Meanwhile, at Bolton Elementary School, Unit 1 boxers contributed three golds and three silvers in the secondary boys' competition, finishing second only to Unit 2 in that particular category.
Final Standings and Event Success
The complete final rankings showed Unit 2 making significant progress, collecting 95 golds, 81 silvers, and 81 bronzes – a substantial increase from their 67 gold medals earlier this year. Unit 3 followed closely with 90 golds, 100 silvers, and 80 bronzes, demonstrating remarkable balance across events.
Unit 6, powered by rising swimmers and gymnasts, secured fourth place with 49 golds, 58 silvers, and 48 bronzes. Unit 8-Daprisa (Davao Association of Private Schools and Administrators, Incorporated) took fifth position with 45 golds, 33 silvers, and 47 bronzes.
The remaining standings included Unit 4 in sixth place (42-66-71), Unit 5-Prisaa ranking seventh (27-32-10), and Unit 7-Dacisaa completing the standings (24-33-31).
DepEd Davao City division superintendent Rey Solitario declared the 2025-2026 DCAA Meet as one of the city's most successful and smoothly run sporting events. "The meet stood out for its discipline, teamwork, and the skill of our young athletes," Solitario emphasized, noting significantly fewer injuries compared to previous years as evidence of improved preparation and safety protocols.
The event gained additional prestige with the presence of Vice Mayor Rigo Duterte II during the opening program, which Solitario described as energizing for athletes, coaches, and officials alike. New special awards including Best in Saludo, Most Organized Delegation, and Most Disciplined Delegation added excitement and promoted sportsmanship beyond athletic performance.
Superintendent Solitario concluded that the DCAA Meet served as more than just a competition – it represented a celebration of Davao City's commitment to developing young athletes and fostering excellence in sports education.
