BACOLOD CITY – Western Visayas cue players Elijah Alvarez and Garlyn Delfin displayed great poise and precision to grab the limelight in the 9-ball events of the 2026 National PRISAA Games at the Forth Thursday morning, May 14.

Alvarez, a second-year Business Administration student at Filamer Christian University in Roxas City, outlasted his rivals in the earlier rounds before scoring a 5-0 domination of MIMAROPA’s Heroshi Ramos in their race-to-five men’s finale.

The 22-year-old Alvarez bagged his first-ever PRISAA gold which he will use as an added boost to his dream of becoming a world champion like his idol Efren “Bata” Reyes.

“Thank you kay God kasi hindi niya ako pinabayaan ako rito. First gold ko po ‘to. Sobrang saya po na nakakakuha ng medal rito,” said Alvarez, who was once featured in GMA’s Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho (KMJS) when he was an eight-year-old billiard wonder. “Gusto ko po talagang mag-world champion sa future, gaya ni Efren Bata po.”

“Medyo mahirap po ‘yong naging preparation and sobrang init po rito,” he quipped.

Alvarez’s fellow Capizeño Garlyn Delfin also shone after reigning in the 9-ball girls division courtesy of a 5-1 victory against Bicol’s Rizza Mae Valdez. In other divisions, Negros Island Region’s Jo Vincent Martir (5-2) and Joana Mariel Remo (5-1) ruled the boys and women’s class, respectively.

Meanwhile, Bicol Region’s Naga College Foundation Inc. made history as the school won its first PRISAA gold after a 25-19, 30-32, 25-21, 25-20 finals escape over SOCCSKSARGEN before a rapturous crowd inside University of St. La Salle campus here.

Jireh Armiana Francisco, a Dumaguete native, was named the Finals MVP after steering the Lady Tigers to the Promised Land.

“Sobrang thankful po, and of course sa mga coaches, teammates and parents namin na sumuporta, sobrang intense nang laban,” said Francisco, whose inspirations are Alyssa Valdez and Sisi Rondina. “Lahat nang pinaghirapan namin dito ‘yon ang ipapakita namin sa Palarong Pambansa.”

In baseball, CALABARZON achieved a three-peat in boys division, while the region’s men’s and boys’ squads conquered football events.

Currently, Filipino-Spaniard Luis Jurado remains as the most bemedalled athlete in the annual meet with seven golds for Central Visayas after sweeping his seven swimming events in the boys division. Following behind are IloIlo dancers Ma. Victoria Cruz and Andrei Villanueva with six golds in dance sport.

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, Central Visayas kept its No. 1 position with 98 gold, 58 silver, and 49 bronze medals in the senior level of the competition, which received a boost from Molten and Mikasa through donations of basketballs and volleyballs to the schools here in the City of Smiles.

Western Visayas (72-51-41) and SOCCSKSARGEN (48-48-40) sit at No. 2 and 3, respectively.