THE Philippine Navy emerged as the overall champion of this year’s national finals of the Philippine Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Games, held from August 18-23 in Cavite.

Cadet athletes representing the Philippine Navy secured a total of 89 medals, including 44 golds, 19 silvers, and 26 bronzes, surpassing the Philippine Army contingent, which tallied 42 golds, 54 silvers, and 77 bronzes.

The Air Force cadet athletes rounded out the competition with 18 golds, 27 silvers, and 39 bronzes.

By school ranking, De La Salle University led the national finals with 25 golds and 3 silvers, while Rizal Technological University came in second with 16 golds, 17 silvers, and 11 bronzes.

“This year’s competition once again showcased how the ROTC program positively contributes to youth development. Through sports, we foster excellence, discipline, and leadership among our college cadets,” said Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, the brainchild behind the ROTC Games.

“This year’s national finals were inspired by the notable achievements of our Filipino athletes in the Paris Olympics. I am confident that future national athletes, and possibly our next Olympians, will emerge from their ranks,” the senator added.

A total of 151 universities, including private institutions and national and local government-run tertiary schools, were represented in this year’s national finals, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The competition featured 14 events, including arnis, athletics, basketball, boxing, chess, e-sports, kickboxing, sepak takraw, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, and the raiders’ competition, which tested the military skills and strategy of the cadet-athletes.