Eco4 ready for Open netfest
IT'S all systems go for the Selecta and Merco-backed Mayor Sara Duterte Men's National Open Tennis Tournament, which gets underway at the newly-rehabilitated Eco 4 Tennis Club courts from March 12 to 20.
Assistant tournament director Leo Vulcan Gervacio of Eco 4 Tennis Club said the twin courts to be used for the tournament are 90 percent ready after undergoing rehabilitation works.
"Repainting was done last Wednesday. Every preparation is going on as scheduled so we are all set for the hosting. Everything is set even before March 12," Gervacio said during the regular Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum Thursday at the Tower Inn.
Gervacio said the organizing committee headed by Merco's Anton Ferrazzini is just hoping that the weather won't be a cause of any delay since the city has been experiencing rains lately.
Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) regional vice president and tournament director Juanito Cansino Jr., who also graced the sports fora, said the countrys' top 16 players led by Davis Cupper Johnny Arcilla are definitely playing and had in fact received their plane tickets from the organizers.
"Exciting tennis action is to be expected with the presence of rated players in the 32-man main draw that also includes Cebu City's top four professional and juniors players as well as rated netters from Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro," Cansino said.
The host city has four representatives in the main draw, namely Ralph Kevin Barte, Rollyto Litang, Ruel Rubillar and Mark Anthony Alcoseba.
The rest of the Davao netters may earn tickets to the main draw since there is a qualifying round set on March 12 and 13 in the P150,000 event supported by Unilever, Ralph's Wines & Spirits, Davao del Norte second district Representative Antonio Lagdameo, Davao City Water District, Pagcor, Stronghold Insurance Company Inc., Transcycle and Kisan Lu Lands and Development Inc.
A total of 24 players signed up for the qualifying round as of yesterday. The top two qualifiers will pocket P6,000 and P3,000 while the losing semifinalists will each go home with P2,000. The four quarterfinals losers will settle for P1,000 apiece.
Huge cash prizes are up for grabs in the main draw with the singles champion taking the champion's purse of P30,000. The event also features a doubles category.
Tickets are still available at Eco4 clubhouse. Season ticket for the entire duration of the meet costs P500 while daily ticket from qualifying to quarter-finals is P100 and semi-finals and championship tickets are pegged at P200 each.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 04, 2011.
NGBL an experimental league
SIX schools are entered in the inaugural season of the New Generation Basketball League (NGBL), which is set to resume Friday.
Tournament commissioner Jonathan Espina said the league is experimental and aims to give players of small school teams the chance to compete among themselves.
"Having six teams is a good start but we expect more schools joining us in the next season set sometime in July," Espina told members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) during their weekly forum at the Tower Inn.
The Precious International School of Davao (PISD), Southern Philippines Baptist Theology School, Philippine Women's College, Philippine Academy of Sakya, Lamb of God Sped Academy and International Christian School of Davao are the teams competing in the ongoing season.
Espina said he was happy upon knowing other coaches share his vision of bringing their respective schools to future basketball greatness.
Some of their potential players have been lured by scholarships from bigger schools, according to Espina. (MLSA)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 04, 2011.
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