Young Davao riders dream big

THEY enter the room with their bikes. They're panting hard, taking deep breaths and wiping their sweat. But, despite their exhaustion, you can see the happiness in their faces.

Davao City riders Alfred Panday, 21, and Efren John Maniyog, 21, just got back from their daily preparations for the upcoming Philippine National Games Cycling events to be held at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City from May 27-28.

MMCI dribblers dominate

THE Mindanao Medical Center Incorporated (MMCI) Tornadoes beat the Medical Mission Group of Hospitals (MMGH)-Davao Green Troupers, 115-98, in the Instatech Inter-Hospital Basketball Tournament at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Matina campus Saturday.

The victory was the seventh straight for the Tornadoes that put them on the top spot of bracket B in the team standings with a 7-0 record.

Sabaldan: Pau-wer is the name of the game

FOR a full 5-set maneuvering, SVL 10th Season's tallest team National University looks vulnerable with Pau Soriano leading Adamson University to give them their first loss in the tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Sweet revenge came in another full 5-set exchanges at their own homecourt of the MOA Arena where Aleona Denise Santiago takes her turn receiving the SVL pie as Best Player of the Game earlier awarded to Benting for a more superior play in Game 1.

John Paul T. Ponce: Davao's rising karate champ

JOHN Paul Tudtud Ponce didn't know that he would become a champion so soon after joining the 2012 Milo Summer Karate Clinic.

Yes, the nine-year-old incoming fourth grader at Precious International School of Davao is carving his own name following a handful of achievements he earned in barely one year of playing the sport of karatedo.

Crocs FC hold lead on DFC League

THE Davao Crocodile Football Club (FC) seems untouchable at the top of the Davao Football Community (DFC) League. Having conceded only three goals during the league games, Davao Crocodile FC remains undefeated and on the top of the league table. Amassing a record of 17 wins and three draws, Davao Crocodile FC looms over their- competition with 54 points, 13 more than second-placed Intangibles FC.

Staying put at second place, Intangibles FC has worked up a record of 11 wins, eight draws and only one defeat for a total of 41 points.

Medvil-Davao in group of death

THE Medvil Football Club of Davao City opens its Group of Death campaign against Masbate at 2 p.m. today, Saturday, in the Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki Under-23 National Cup that formally opened at the Perdices Memorial Coliseum in Dumaguete City on Friday.

Instatech tourney resumes today

THE Instatech Inter-Hospital Basketball & Volleyball Tournament resumes today with six basketball games and two volleyball games.

The first volleyball game will be between Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Tamaraws and Community Health & Development Cooperative Hospital (CHDCH) Chimeras while the second game will be Medical Mission Group of Hospitals (MMGH) - Davao Green Troupes versus the Davao Mediquest Hospital Incorporated (DMHI) Cowgirls.

NCFP-Davao to enhance Davao chess

JAMES Infiesto, regional director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), will be joining seminars spearheaded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) from May 18-25 at the Midas Hotel Casino in Pasay City in a bid to strengthen chess in Davao City.

Infiesto, speaking in yesterday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Calle Cinco, called on other trainers who might be interested to joini the seminars.

2 cyclists to represent Davao City

TWO cyclists will represent Davao City in the 21-under track competition of the Philippine National Games at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City from May 26-27.

The two riders--Alfred Pinday and Efren John Maninyo--are winners of the 2013 Davao Summerfest Cycling Open Championships 21-under Division.

UPLB-AA golf tourney slated

THE University of the Philippines-Los Baños Alumni (UPLB-AA) Association Davao will be holding the 1st Loyalty Cup Golf Tournament at Apo Golf Club on May 18.

Joel Laserna, president of the UPLB-AA appeared at the Club 888 press yesterday at Marco Polo Davao to discuss the tournament.

Davao City to honor athletes

IN RECOGNITION of the efforts and success of Davao City's athletes, the City Sports Development Division (CSDD) will be conducting the 2nd Athletes Recognition on June.

The date and venue of the event are still to be confirmed, but CSDD head Pochollo Elegino said the event might be held after Mayor Duterte's State of the City Address and they are eyeing the Ritz Hotel as the venue of the event.

MMCI posts back-to-back wins

THE Mindanao Medical Center Incorporated (MMCI) Tornadoes garnered back-to-back wins in their basketball games last Saturday held at the Ateneo de Davao University Matina Campus Sports Complex.

The two wins helped MMCI retain a perfect record at 6-0, keeping the top spot of basketball bracket B of the Instatech Inter-Hospital Basketball and Volleyball Tournament.

Coaches Corner's summer camp ends

COACHES Corner concluded their summer basketball camp last May 11 at the covered court of Garden Oases.

The students of coaches Chito Ramos and Roland Sancho played practice games last Saturday to apply the skills they learned over the course of one week during their daily training sessions.

Bahalas top SBC weekly Dalwahan

Rael and Rjay Bahala topped the Sunday Bowlers Club's weekly Dalawahan Bowling tour.

The games were held at the Fair Lanes Bowling Center along F. Torres Street.

Former champs head ICTSI LPGT cast

FOUR former Philippine Ladies Open winners, led by three-time champion Mary Grace Estuesta, banner the elite cast chasing history in the first-ever ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, which unwraps Wednesday (May 15) at the tough The Country Club layout in Laguna.

Although they are far from top form owing to long layoff and lack of competitive local tournaments, the former PLO champions are thrilled over the upcoming circuit, which will feature five 54-hole tournaments for its inaugural staging at the country's championship courses.

Ortiz intensifies her torrid pace

TWELVE of today's most exciting women volleyball players of the country will slug it out over the net as the 10-team, 10th Season Shakey's V-League progresses into the semifinals of the country's premier commercial volleyball tournament.

My own list of the top ten includes Denise Aleona Santiago, younger sister Allyja, and Myla Pablo of the National University Lady Bulldogs which is current number one gunning over number four but unpredictably strong Adamson University Lady Falcons of Paulina Soriano, number one server Sheila Pineda and Luisa Mae Zapanta.

Coaches' Corner: A place for local talent

FOUR years ago, coaches Chito Ramos and Roland Sancho had a cup of coffee and brought up the idea of forming a group for Davao City’s basketball coaches. Today, Ramos and Sancho, operating under the name Coaches’ Corner, heads one of the biggest local basketball tourneys for young Davao cagers; the Garden Oases Basketball Cup.

The recently concluded tournament had attracted 14 teams playing in all three of the competitions’ division, even though it was only on its third year. The success of the tournament is a testament to the steady rise of Coaches’ Corner in the local basketball scene.

Boracay Dragons take frisbee crown

THE Boracay Dragons frisbee team defeated defending champions Mulatto Davao in the Pool A Mixed Division final of the 3rd Daba-Daba National Frisbee competition.

In a largely back-and-forth affair between the two teams, Boracay Dragons finally crept ahead on the score sheet to beat Mulatto Davao 17-15 at the Agro Field along Quimpo Boulevard to take the tournament crown from the defending champions right in their hometown.

Financial issues stifle Davao's martial arts bids

LACK of funds continues to haunt sports team around Davao City, especially when it comes to joining competitions outside the city.

The local martial arts scene is no exception to this, as Bern Rexander Tacay bared at the Davao Sportswrites Association (DSA) forum held yesterday at the Dexter's Pizza Stadium along MacArthur Highway.

A political golf dynasty?

THE 8th Pomelo Tee of Rancho Palos Verdes successfully concluded May 5 with two players making a hole-in-one.

Mimi Siason made a hole-in-one last May 2, 2013, at hole no. 6. While Diomedes Lim made the feat last May 4, 2013, at hole no. 11.

Dancesport workshop ends today

THE three-day dancesport workshop being held at SM City Davao Annex is set to end today, May 8.

Denise Bunayog trained the participants in Cha-Cha last Monday and gave lessons in Jive and Samba on Tuesday.

Yellow team wins Sun.Star Davao Sports Fest basketball

THE yellow teams in the Sun.Star Davao Sports Fest emerged champions in both the men's three-on-three and women's shootout divisions.

The yellow team defeated the blue team 21-14 to secure the title for the men's three-on-three competitions.

Mongol Crayons Summer Kids Bowling Clinic this month

THE Mongol Crayons Summer Kids Bowling Clinic is all set for this month at B3 in NCCC Mall.

Registration began on April 15 and will end in May 9.

Dancesport needs local support

THE success of the recently concluded Davao Summerfest Mindanao-wide Open Latin Dancesport Championship seems to show that the sport is doing well in Davao City.

More than 60 pairs from all over Mindanao competed in the competition which was a first for the Davao Summerfest.

Sta. Ana High School, Madayaw Cheetahs triumph in cheer dance

THE Davao City Recreation Center was rocked on Monday as cheerdance teams from Mindanao amazed judges and audience with their routines.

Nine cheerdance teams competed in the Davao-based and open categories, but only six were awarded as winners that day.

HCSD win PBA Youngstars again

HOLY Child School of Davao (HCSD) held strong in a close game to defend its PBA Youngstars Championship in the Davao City leg. Choking the final few seconds of the game by capitalizing on fouls by their opponent, HCSD posted a 76-70 win over the Phoenix selection team.

HCSD's Vincent Angelo Fernandez was the top scorer of the team, racking up 27 points for his side. Jericho Feleciano and Allan Meri Beltran followed, contributing 13 and 11 points to HCSD's scoresheet, respectively.

Hail the Champs: Davraa sipa team makes Palaro history

NEWLY-CROWNED 2013 Palarong Pambansa champion Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) elementary sipa takraw team made a milestone with its recent Dumaguete City feat. Never mind if the entire Davraa delegation slumped to 11th place, posting an all-time low in the history of the annual school-based games.

The Ronnie Daigdigan-coached Davraa sipa takraw team bannered by Josefa Llanes Escoda Elementary School's Aljay Dariday and Jason Dave Malijao of Maa, Davao City along with Dann Marr Concillado of Mankilam Elementary School, Tagum City and Christian John Altovar of Dr. Jovito Francisco Elementary School, Davao City was the first-ever elementary sipa team that captured the gold medal for Davraa in the entire Palaro history.

Frisbee mixed division today

THE 3rd Daba Daba Frisbee National Competition began yesterday with the all women and open categories. The games were played at the Tionko Field, with three games being played at a time on three of the field's pitches.

The elimination games were a race to 11 points, with a time limit of 40 minutes.

Davao bowlers dominate special categories

BOWLERS from the city trumped the competition in the special category games played in the opening day of the 36th FEDBOP Annual National Duckpin Bowling Championship.

Davaoeño bowlers steamrolled the competition in the mixed doubles division, as the top four pairs in the division were all from Davao. Mel Bojo and Ely Mursoa placed first while Marcelino de Guzman and Allen Tibus placed second. Boying Magday and Mathess Domino placed third and Virgo Calida and Che Che Calida placed fourth to fill the list with Davaoeño bowlers.

Frisbee event gets underway

THE 3rd Daba Daba Frisbee National Competition kicks off today with games in the men’s and women’s division. The games will be played at the Tionko Football Field. Jean Tuvilla of Mulatto Davao, one of the organizers of the competition, shared the news to the media at SM City Davao-Annex yesterday in iSpeak forum which focused on the 2013 Summerfest Davao.

Nine teams will be vying for the crown in the all men's division namely: Davao Disc Squad, Malaybalay United, Ultimate Mad Monkeys, Mulatto Davao, Ateneo Ultimate, South Side Guerillas, Boracay Dragons, Firefly, and Bekiminaj.