Davao regains the Mindanao championship in volleyball

THE championship honors belong to Davao City, the people and the main benefactors of sports Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. This was the statement made by Solidad Torino, head coach of the Davao City National High School Girls volleyball team after regaining the championship crown in the Milo Little Olympics Mindanao 2012 held September 7,8,9 and 10 this year in Cagayan de Oro City.

Cagayan de Oro had beaten the powerhouse Iligan City, the team which had taken the lights out of defending champion Davao City in last year's opening round 2011 15th edition. Davao City in turn scored a stunning victory against the host city in the finals of the 16th staging of the games.

Coach Torino made the statement in writing a letter to the Mayor and Vice-Mayor requesting for a photo opportunity with them at the City Mayor's Office and the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the usual forum in which the legislative body suspends the session to give honors to achievers in both academics and sports.

Newly-installed DCNHS principal George Wong also expressed his gratefulness saying that the invaluable support and inspiration provided by the leaders of the city now and then are some of the main driving force for young achievers to excel in their chosen field of sports.

The consistent support and inspiration by the mayor and the vice-mayor had been very helpful for our young athletes who use their energy and athletic abilities to bring honor to their parents, the city and our people.

The DCNHS volleyball girls under Torino and training coach Manuel Ramirez, former UAAP star player and member of the national youth team, is the only team event of the school that had been consistent in giving the city championship honors.

The city's biggest school in terms of students population is also current title holder in Mindanao of the prestigious Shakey's Girls V-League, the junior version of the commercial open Shakey's V-League currently being constested by the country's top four teams, namely, the Sandugo Sandals-San Sebastian College, the Philippine Army Lady Troopers, Ateneo de Manila University and Cagayan Valley.

The most recent achievement by the DCNHS girls volleyball team had given them the right to represent Mindanao in the more competitive national championship slated to be held in Marikina City starting on Saturday, September 22. This will be participated in by the powerhouse team of the NCR-Metro Manila, two other teams from Luzon and two more from the Visayas.

Meanwhile, another championship move was made in the area of athletics, notably track and field, by far the most neglected sports event but is also attractive among hyper energetic children.

Track and field takes a new beginning during a citywide Kids Athletics made successful by the support of Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at the modern Martinez Sports Complex of the Ateneo de Davao University high school campus in Matina.

A total of 116 child athletes and a hundred more parents, teachers and coaches including those in far flung barangays from ages 9 to 11 competed in the different school-based athletics for beginners managed by the P.E. majors of the Holy Cross of Davao College and organized by the group of Jose Alther Rivera, convenor and Jun Sotto, pioneering president of the newly-born DCTAFA or the Davao City Track and Field Association.

The Next Beat: Allan Fernandez and the cause-oriented Trinity Run on September 23, 2012.