Singapore team to beat in PH Open Tchoukball, Prisaa meet opens at UM, Rapid chessfest set

Singapore team to beat in PH Open Tchoukball

THREE teams from Singapore are seeing action in the first-ever Philippine Open Tchoukball Championships on January 28 to 30 at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Philippine Tchoukball Federation (PTF) president Gary Visitacion, gracing yesterday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, said Malaysia and Taiwan begged off in the last minute leaving only Singapore as the foreign team in the event.


"Singapore is competing in men's, juniors and women's divisions," Visitacion said.


He said Bacolod will also field three teams while the rest of the participants will come from the host city.

"We expect Singapore to dominate the competition, though, but it will be exciting to see Bacolod and Davao teams vie for the second spots. Davao's juniors team is stronger now than when it competed in the Asia Pacific Championships in Singapore last year," Visitacion said.

PTF vice president Blair Cuares confirmed that Davao's 18-under team has improved a lot and is expected to pull off surprises in the tournament.

"This tournament will be a great tune-up for our country's teams in upcoming international meets considering that Singapore is Asia's No. 2 team," Cuares said.

Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte had been invited as guest speaker in the opening rites of the event that expects some 200 players, coaches and officials. (MLSA)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on January 21, 2011.





Prisaa meet opens at UM


DAVAO City will open its bid to keep the overall title when the 2011 Regional Prisaa Meet opens at 9 a.m. today at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina Gym.

A brief opening ceremony will usher in the three-day event with Commission on Higher Education (Ched) regional director Edward Aquino as guest speaker.

Executive director Edgardo "Bing" Grandeza yesterday said games in all events will start in the afternoon, with some 1,000 athletes from all over the region figting it out for slots in the national finals.

Most events, including volleyball, basketball, tennis, chess, table tennis, sepak takraw, athletics and softball will be played at UM Matina while swimming will plunge into action over DMMA College of Southern Philippines, taekwondo at NCCC Mall of Davao and football at the Tionko football grounds.

Other events entered are boxing, judo and beach volleyball, among others.

Slots to the national finals slated February 21 to 28 are up for grabs in the regional qualifying that will also have delegations coming from Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte.

Davao City is expected to dominate the sportsfest but Davao del Norte will try to keep its boxing and beach volleyball title.

In chess, Davao City coach National Master (NM) Prospero "Bebot" Cruz said they are ready to defend their crown in the men's and women's teams.

"We have a very strong line up this year. Our men's squad may even contend for the gold in the national finals," Cruz said.

Cruz, appearing in the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn yesterday, said the Cor Jesu College of Digos-bannered Davao del Sur may be their stiffest rival.

Cruz said Cor Jesu is coached by veteran chesser Jimmy Dano. "They have a very strong chess program and a very good coach," he said. (Charles Raymond A. Maxey)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on January 21, 2011.








Rapid chessfest set


THE Rapid Under-12 Chess Tournament will get underway on January 29 and 30 at the Gaisano Grand Citimall entertainment center.

Organizer National Master (NM) Prospero "Bebot" Cruz said the two-day chessfest is open to players 12 years old and below.


"We expect some 80 woodpushers from Davao, Compostela Valley, Kidapawan and General Santos City. This is a good exposure for elementary players who will compete in the upcoming Davraa Meet," Cruz told members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) in their weekly forum at the Tower Inn yesterday.



The seven-round Swiss System format event will allow each chesser 25 minutes to play.

It stakes cash prizes of P1,000, P500 and P300 for the top three placers. They will also receive medals.

The competition is sponsored by parents of the city's chess players.

Registration fee is P75. Players are encouraged to bring their own chess sets and chess clocks.

Interested participants may contact Cruz at mobile number (0908) 503-3425. (MLSA)

Mixed topics at DSA forum

MIXED topics will be discussed when the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum resumes at the Tower Inn at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Holiday Gym & Spa chief operations officer Ivy Fernandez, Private Schools Athletic Association (Prissa) Davao Region representative Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia and Philippine Tchoukball Federation president Gary Visitacion are guests.

Greet your friends and families this Sinulog season. Sun.Star covers Sinulog 2011 live!

Fernandez will talk about the Holiday Run slated on January 30 while Sarabia will discuss details of the Regional Prisaa Meet set on January 21 to 23 in Davao City.



Visitacion, for his part, will brief DSA members on the upcoming International Tchoukball tournament to be held at the Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC), formerly Almendras Gym.

Newly-crowned Cebu City Marathon women's champion Monalisa Ambasa and men's fourth-placer Anthony Nerza are also expected to grace the sports forum sponsored by Tower Inn. (MLSA)