Discipline, skills key to fighters' conquest

DISCIPLINE, patience and right strategies did the trick for Team Phoenix-Moo Duk Kwan Davao's sterling triple victories in the Ultimate Strikers Championship (USC) 5 Saturday at the SM Bicutan in Parañaque City.

"Our players were very disciplined and patient. We instructed them not to brawl early and to study their taller and bigger opponents. What happened at the USC 5 was a very good break for Davao Muay Thai players," head coach Edgar Alan Paulino said. "Hopefully we can bring more Davao talents to compete in Manila."

Steve "Red Knight" Grandeza hacked out a knockout victory over Francis "Baguio" Romero while Rudy "4K Kevkatchi" Tacogue beat Christopher Tamayo via unanimous decision and Carlo "Red Rock" Laude scored a third round knockout win over Manuel "Cobra" Silvano of Quezon City.

"We are happy with the result. We performed well considering that our rivals were more seasoned in Muay Thai competitions than us. But there is no time to relax though as I will resume rigid training for my world title fight in Dubai on Oct. 1," Grandeza said in yesterday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn.

Assistant coach Bryan Grandeza also praised the performances of their wards saying.

"They really had good preparation and listened to us very well," Grandeza said.

Laude, a first Dan MDK blackbelt, said he didn't expect to win as it was his first time to compete in full contact sport.

"It was also my first time to compete in Muay Thai and to had done so outside the city. It was really a whole new experience for me and I'm so happy. I thanked my coaches for their help with my techniques. My ears were just attuned to them during the fight and I didn't even listen to the referee's reminders," Laude said.

Tacogue, a former sparring partner of the world's pound-for-pound boxer Manny Pacquaio, said he looks forward to competing in more Muay Thai tournaments.
"I quit boxing when I had an injury yet now I'm into Muay Thai and I'm enjoying it," Tacogue said in the vernacular.

Steve Grandeza said he will face a Ghana fighter in Dubai.

"We will study his fights over the net. But I think I have an edge over him since he had nowhere to see my fights. I didn't upload any video of my fights so as not to give my opponents any idea," he said.

The team thanked Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rody R. Duterte, Dennis Uy of Phoenix Fuel and Christopher "Bong" Go for their support.


Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on July 30, 2010.

Diving gold medalist to train in China with 4 fellow Davaoeños

Diver Shiela Mae Perez with her gold and silver medals at the DSA Forum at Tower Inn. She left for China to train for six weeks.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSOCIATION)



1st row, shiela mae perez of diving, ruditha poralan, sanita kasim and amina anuddin of traditional boat race.
2nd row, edmer del socorro, ruel batuto of baseball, luvelyn maganda of softball.(Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)









Shiela Mae Perez, the three-meter springboard diving gold medalist in the Thailand SEA Games, and four fellow Davaoeños will be training in Xian, China for six weeks.
On Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, Perez said that Jaime Asok, Zardo Domenios, Niño Carog and Rexel Ryan Fabriga already left for Xian and she will immediately follow.
She said that they are all preparing for the Olympic qualifying World Cup in Shenzhen where the top 36 divers will earn a ticket to the Beijing Olympics in August this year.
Perez presented her gold medal and her silver medal she won in the one-meter springboard in Thailand last month. "We are happy to present these medals to our fellow Davaoeños," she said.
After a lunch treat courtesy of Davao City Sports Coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go to Perez and the other SEA Games medallists Edmer del Socorro and Ruel Batuto of baseball, Luvelyn Maganda of softball, Amina Anuddin, Sanita Kasim and Ruditha Poralan of traditional boat race, Perez left for Manila on Thursday afternoon to take a Friday morning flight to China.