MANILA – Negrense discus throw athlete Franz Gela Bintad is physically and mentally ready to make her debut for the De La Salle University (DLSU) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 athletics competition.
The Escalante City, Negros Occidental-native said that she is thrilled to win her first ever competition for the Lady Archers and is religiously putting up the weights to remain in the highest form even if the tournament is still iffy due to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.
“Kasalukuyan kong ginagawa ang pag-eensayo, pagdidisiplina sa sarili at pagiging determinado para pagdating sa UAAP season ay handa na ako sa mga darating na laban,” Bintad said in an interview with DLSU’s Ang Pahayagang Plaridel.
She added: “Determinado rin akong maipanalo ang unang karera sa UAAP sapagkat isang malaking karangalan para sa akin ang lumaro para sa DLSU. Pinaghandaan ko ito at ibibigay ko naman ang best ko.”
A former Bacolod Tay Tung High School standout, Bintad admitted that adjustments when she first stepped in DLSU were not easy for her, but she is now getting the hang of them.
“Noong una akong pumasok sa DLSU, naninibago talaga ako. Pero noong tumagal, naka-adjust na rin ako,” said Bintad, who won gold medals in the Palarong Pambansa and National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) competitions.
“Ang mahirap na pinagdadaanan ko ngayon ay ang time management. Mahirap para sa akin kung alin sa academics at training ang uunahin ko,” added the Palarong Pambansa discus throw record holder.
Aside from representing Western Visayas in the Palarong Pambansa and the National PRISAA, Bintad also won gold medals while wearing the country’s colors in various competitions abroad./PN
