250 boxers to compete in Tonyboy Cup-PLDT slugfest

250 boxers to compete in Tonyboy Cup-PLDT slugfest

FROM some 250 pugs will rise the next boxing hero after Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar as the 10th Tonyboy Cup and PLDT-Abap Mindanao Area Amateur Boxing Championship unfolds at the Panabo City Gym starting on Saturday.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) Mindanao Area 2 executive director and Rep. Anton F. Lagdameo chief-of-staff Gene Rose Tecson, appearing on Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, said the competing boxers are coming from 18 clubs who will be fighting in the kids 11 to 12 years old, school boys 13 to 14, junior boys 15 to 16, youth boys 17 to 18 and elite men 19 to 25 years old categories.


"This is the only grassroots event being conducted in Mindanao, thus, giving opportunity for the region's boxers to shine. This is part of our ambitious claim that the country's first Olympic gold medal will come from a Mindanao boxer," Tecson said.


The Brgy. Una Boxing Team, a brainchild of former congressman Tonyboy Floirendo and also being backed up by Rep. Anton F. Lagdameo Jr., had recently hogged the limelight after Saludar annexed the nation's only boxing gold in Guangzhou while his brother Victorio copped a bronze.

Tecson said they have some 50 amateur boxing scholars in the Brgy. Una stable. All of them are being sent to school for free. All scholars must go to school before they can train.

She said they hope that the victories of the Saludar brothers will inspire their boxers to dream big and go for the gold. Victorio is arriving on Dec. 14 followed by Rey the next day to witness the championship bouts. Both will also be given the chance to speak to their fellow boxers as a way of encouraging them to stay on track.

"We will give recognition to the Saludar brothers on Dec. 15 which is also the birthday of Mr. Floirendo," Tecson said.

Brgy. Una, meanwhile, is defending its over-all crown in the slugfest hosted by Panabo City and the second district of Davao del Norte under Cong. Lagdameo.

Zamboanga City, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, General Santos City, Valencia City, Malaybalay City of Bukidnon, Camigui and Misamis Oriental are also entered. (Marianne Saberon-Abalayan)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on December 10, 2010.

11 teams in Deca basketball event

11 teams in Deca basketball event


ELEVEN teams will vie for honors in the First Deca Homes Resort and Residences (DHRR) Homeowners Basketball League that will tip off on Saturday at the DHRR open court in Barangay Tacunan, Mintal.

Tournament committee representative Tata Candia bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn on Thursday.


Candia said the teams will be grouped into two brackets where they will play the single round robin. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals en route to the championship.



"We are very excited to put up this league. We hope this becomes successful so we can hold it every year. This is really a great activity for all homeowners to forge camaraderie among each other and at the same time promote healthy and active lifestyle," Candia said.

DHRR resort manager Paulo Soo lauded the efforts of Candia and his friends for their initiative to stage the tournament that will end on Dec. 22.

Soo said the 8990 Housing Development Corporation is backing up the event as a thrust in promoting a vibrant and dynamic DHRR community.

Cash prizes and trophies will be up for grabs in the cagefest that will also name a most valuable player (MVP).

DHRR had hosted to local football tournaments and a football clinic conducted by the national football team. (Marianne Saberon-Abalayan)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on December 03, 2010.

Valle predicts Mindanao Open 9-Ball winner

(Left to right) Valle, Pana, Migellano.

SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games 2009 silver medalist Gandy Valle predicted that the
3rd Sun.Star Superbalita Mindanao Open 9-Ball Challenge title will be won by a
Davao City player.

The tournament is set on Saturday and Sunday at the NCCC Mall Bowling, Billiards
and Bar (B3) Center.

Valle, who guested at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the
Tower Inn yesterday, said: "The crown will stay in Davao. Players from Davao just
like me will do our best to defend the title. I've seen other locals practicing in
billiards centers that I went to recently. We are prepared to keep the Davao pride."

Diminutive Valle, a 1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medalist, won the inaugural
title of the event in 2008 while another Dabawenyo Christopher Alanunay topped
the event last year.

"Should I get knocked out early, I will still root for a Davao City player to win the
tournament. I would gladly give pointers to a Dabawenyo who will enter the
finals," he said.

He said pressure is the only thing that every player should overcome. A less
experienced player or an amateur will likely succumb to it in a crucial match but
one should know how to fight pressure whether the crowd is cheering for him or
not.

Sun.Star Davao Publishing, Inc. general manager Tessie A. Paña, over-all chair of
the tournament, said the company will continue to promote billiards among
Mindanoans as it is one of the few sports where Filipinos can excel in the world
level.

She said, "There is no organization or a company that focuses on promoting
billiards in Mindanao. We want to play an active role in giving Mindanao players a
sporting chance to compete among themselves and be recognized to also play in
national and international competitions."

Co-chair Charles Raymond A. Maxey, meanwhile, urged other companies to follow
Sun.Star Davao's lead in promoting billiards since it is also a sport where Filipinos
are known all over the world aside from boxing.

"Mindanao players just need exposures. They need to be given opportunities to
compete," Maxey added.

Tournament director Menlee Migellano, president of Davao Billiards Inc., on his
part, named Elvis Calasang, Val Pajuay and Leonardo "Dodong Panacan" Didal as
among the rated players also joining the P98,000 cuefest that stakes P50,000 cash
prize to the champion.

Interested players may proceed at the B3 Center today at 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the
final day of registration. Fee is P500 inclusive of official playing shirt and bottled
water. Pay only P350 if you submit 10 mastheads of Sun.Star Davao or Superbalita
upon registration.

The event is backed up by NCCC Mall B3, 8990 Housing Development Corporation,
SkyCable and Betan Calibration Technique as major sponsors and Microtel Inn and
Suites Davao, San Miguel Corporation, Santos Land Development
Corporation,Toryano's Chicken Haus, Grand Men Seng Hotel, Home Crest
Residences, Stadium Buffet Restaurant and Sports Lounge, Water Lovers Purified
Drinking Water, Visuals in Motion Advertising and Redrock Dezigns as minor
sponsors.(pr)