Acedo, Batucan signal thumbs up sign at DSA Forum

Davao's youth standouts Rowelyn Joy Acedo and John Ray Batucan signal thumbs up on Thursday's DSA Forum at the Tower Inn. They are going to Vietnam on June 9 for the ASEAN Age-Group Chess Championships on June 11 to 20.DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.

NBTC Davao training to resume early

The second cycle of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) in Davao is expected to be earlier than expected, said NBTC Davao commissioner Atty.Manny Nitorreda.

NBTC national director Eric Altamirano plans to hold the second phase in October but the impressive showing of Davao basketball students encouraged him to resume the training earlier.

On Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn , Nitorreda said that the 25 students who completed the course came up with an impressive showing that made Altamirano decide to continue the training with instructions to the local staff to look for more talents.

Forty students signed up for the program but only 25 were able to complete the course.

Tao Corp. has allotted P85 million for the project for the next three years with training centers also in the National Capital Region handled by Alex Compton and in Cebu under Mon Fernandez.

Altamirano, a former PBA coach, is handling the over-all program with the support of the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

GET Memorial golfest to benefit 60 scholars

The 20^th Guillermo E. Torres Memorial Golf Tournament will benefit 60 scholars of the Mt.Apo Science Foundation College.

Proceeds of the golfest on June 15 at the Apo Golf and Country Club will go to the expenses to be incurred by the students who are taking up agriculture and agronomy courses, said Edgardo "Bobet" Castillo, senior vice-president of the University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, who is part of the organizing committee.

The late Torres, he said, established the college as his pet project.

Malayan Insurance is backing the event by providing P1 million as hole-in-one prize for hole no.4 and P500,000 from Metropolitan Insurance for either hole numbers 7,11 or 17.

On Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, Castillo said that they are expecting 280 players to join.

They have increased the number of raffle prizes this year to make sure that even non-tournament winners will bring something back home. "Para mas enjoy," he said.

Castillo said that they have invited Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, a former Mindanao Times editor to join UM president Guillermo Torres Jr. to the ceremonial tee-off at 11 a.m.

Awarding ceremony will be at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Batucan, Acedo ready for Vietnam

Davao's youth standouts John Ray Batucan and Rowelyn Joy Acedo are going to Vietnam on June 9 for the ASEAN Age-Group Chess Championships on June 11 to 20.

"I won't promise, but I will do my best," said Batucan on Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn. Batucan topped the national age-group qualifying tournament in Manila that earned him the Vietnam stint.

Batucan, son of taxi driver Neptali Jr., plays against a computer for four hours every day as part of his training.

And Acedo showed more confidence when she said. "Kaya," said a very confident Acedo who trains under coach Rowel Modina.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) regional director James Infiesto said that their chess federation under former Surigao representative Prospero Pichay Jr. is bankrolling the participation of the players who will wear the national colors.

After their stint in Vietnam, Infiesto said the two players will play in Tagaytay for another tournament to determine the best players for the World Youth Chess Championships.

Meanwhile, Pichay is arriving in Davao City on May 26 for the opening ceremony of the Davao Open Chess Tournament at the Gaisano Mall of Davao.

Infiesto said participants will earn Fide ratings.

"The local government has supported us and 95 percent of the expenses will come from the private sector," he said.

Chess, basketball, volleyball topics of DSA Forum

Chess, basketball and volleyball are the topics of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum on Thursday, May 22, 10:30 a.m., at the Tower Inn along Quirino Avenue.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines regional director James Infiesto, youth standout John Ray Batucan and his father Neptali Jr. will tackle about the young Batucan's participation to the ASEAN Chess Tournament in Vietnam.
Atty.Manny Nitorreda, National Basketball Training Center Davao commissioner, will talk more about the recent NBTC Davao's first cycle of training while officials from the Banker's Cup wil also be gracing the weekly public service sports program sponsored by Genesis 88 Advertising and Tower Inn.
Coach Exequiel Tomines is also joining the Forum to talk about an barangay volleyball tournament.
DSA president Charles Raymond Maxey is requesting members to come on time.

Davao Open chessfest part of grassroots project

The Fide-rated Davao Open Chess Tournament is a project to support the plan of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and former Surigao representative Prospero Pichay to discover new chess talents in the country.

NCFP regional director James Infiesto told sportswriters on Thursday’s Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn that the contest is a development program to make players Fide-rated and for them to earn NCFP points.

Aside from the rating points, the champion will win P20,000, P10,000 for the second placer, P7,000 for the third placer, P5,000 for the fourth placer, P3,000 for the fourth placer and P1,000 each for the fifth to 10^th placers.

He said that the top five players after the event on May 26 to 31 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao will fly to Manila for another tournament and be given a chance to vie for slots in an international competition.

Fide ratings, he said, is important because this will give players a chance to accumulate the needed points to become title holders.

Wesley So, the youngest grandmaster from the Philippines, won the Dubai Open and has inspired Pichay to continue with its grassroots chess development projects in the country by organizing and backing competitions outside of Manila.

Growee 3-on-3 set

The Growee 3-on-3 Batang Barangay Basketball Tournament gets going on May 30, said organizer Rael Diaz.

On Thursday’s Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, he said that after the opening ceremony at the Ladislawa gym, games will start on May 31 simultaneously at the Barangays 5-a, Buhangin, Gov.Duterte, Panacan Relocation gyms.

By June 1, the champions from the different legs will advance to the next round.

A Growee shootout and cheerdance contest will also be featured in the tournament, he said.

SBC Tatlohan rolls off May 20

The Sunday Bowlers Club Tatlohan Bowling Tournament rolls off on May 20 to 23 at the Fairlanes, according to organizer Emie Orteza.

On Thursday’s Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, Orteza said that the tournament is in preparation for Davao teams seeing action in the P200,000 Iligan City National Invitational Tournament on June 15 to 20.

Orteza said that three teams from Davao, three from Iligan, three from Gen.Santos and one from Zamboanga have started preparing early for the Iligan contest.

He said that right after the Tatlohan tournament, another tune-up competition will be organized to fine tune the skills of the Davao players.

SK Summer Sportsfest opens on Saturday

The 2008 SK Federation Summer Sportsfest opens on May 17 at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The opening ceremony will be attended by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte and other officials after the parade that starts at 7 a.m.

Basketball, volleyball, chess, badminton, athletics and taekwondo are featured in the sportsfest for 15 to 18 years old participants that ends on June 7.

SKF president and Davao City councilor Halila Sudagar said on Thursday’s Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn that they designed the event to keep the youth away from vices during the summer.

With the theme of “Magdula Ta Para Iwas Droga”, Sudagar said that this will reinforce the other summer activities being organized in the city but placed emphasis that their events are designed to create a stronger youth sector through sports with the help of the City Government of Davao and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Athletics will be played at the Davao City National High School with various events like the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run, shot put, long jump and relay events on May 23 to 25.

Basketball is set to start on May 19 that will select the best and youth cagers while badminton will be at the 4Play court.

Sudagar thanked the local sports associations for helping them in organizing the event which she hopes will be organized every summer.

Jollibee kiddie crew includes sports clinics

Jollibee Foods Kiddie Crew has included sports events for the kids this summer.
Jollibee's spokesman Jay Madulara told sportswriters on Thursday's DSA Forum at the Tower Inn sponsored by Genesis 88 that participants will experience work as crew from Monday to Wednesday and enjoy sports clinics from Thursday to Saturday.
The sports events are basketball, badminton, table tennis and athletics.
Madulara said the Davao Sports Council Inc. under Councilor Peter Lavina is their partner in the conduct of the clinics.
For more information, contact (082)2245371.

4th Kiddies triathlon to benefit kids with cancer

Alex Sam (extreme right) talks about the 4th Kiddies Triathlon that will benefit kids with cancer. With him are (left-right) Ody Gajitos of Ateneo de Davao and Jay Madulara of Jollibee Foods Corp.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.)


The 4th Kiddies Triathlon is on May 25 at the Ladislawa Country Club, according to organizer Alex Sam.
On Thursday's DSA Forum at the Tower Inn and sponsored by Genesis 88 Advertising, Sam said that the swim-bike-run event will raise funds for the KYTHE Foundation that supports kids with cancer at the Davao Medical Center.
Race briefing is on May 24, 3 p.m., at the Ladislawa Club House.
"Those who cannot attend will not be allowed to participate," said Sam citing the need for all competitors to know rules and regulations of the event to ensure the smooth conduct of the race.
Registration fee is P400 until May 10 and organizers will increase the to P500 if they register after the said date.
A tatay-nanay division will also be featured in the competition for parents to experience also the joys and pains of the event supported by Jollibee Foods Corp., Matina Town Square, Tri-Star Banana, Metro Lifestyle Fitness Center and Holiday Gym and Spa.

1st DC table tennis clinic starts on Monday

Palaro gold medalists Engelbert and John Vincent of boxing and silver medalist Kim Mayono of badminton were also guests of the DSA Forum at the Tower Inn.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.)

The 1st Davao City Table Tennis clinic starts on Monday at the S.I.R. Elementary School Table Tennis Center.
The clinic is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 12 to 23 that will accommodate only 30 participants.
Registration fee is P300.
The Metro Davao Table Tennis Association with the support of the Telecom Table Tennis Club is organizing the event.
Ody Gajitos, coach of the Ateneo de Davao University, is the head instructor.
On Thursday's DSA Forum at the Tower Inn and sponsored by Genesis 88 Advertising, Gajitos said that the clinic is designed to teach the basics of the sport for them to become better and stronger players.