Davao's Prisaa Meet: Let the games begin

THE 330-member Davao City Private Schools Athletic Association (DC-Prisaa) opens its over-all title defense as games of the 2013 Southern Mindanao Region 11 Prisaa Meet begins today, Saturday, at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex, Rotary Park and E-Park in Tagum City.

DC Prisaa is expected to haul gold medals in medal-rich swimming and athletics as well as in martial arts like karatedo and taekwondo but boxing will be a stiff contest between Davao City and Davao del Norte pugs.

Team events such as basketball, baseball, football, volleyball and softball are said to be Davao City's premier sports while beach volleyball is the forte of Davao del Norte.

Other events to be played are chess, sepak takraw, badminton, tennis, dancesports and table tennis.

SM Prisaa executive director Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia earlier said Davao City is poised to dominate most events of the regional meet that serves as qualifying for the National Prisaa Championship set on Feb. 11 to 16 in Pangasinan.

DC-Prisaa men's baseball team is the reigning national champion. It will rely on the services of the University of Mindanao varsity mainstays Nobby rich Abas, Charles Kevin Ambulo, Edgardo Baniog, Jose John Cortes, Earl Ryan del Socorro, Rodrigo Garcia, Roy Vic Gelvero, Howell Jera Jr., Paul John Juson, Gennie Lumictin, Emmanuel Rivera, Jose Franco Serra and Mark Anthony Takahashi with Sarabia as head coach and Vincent Ryan Sarabia as his assistant.

The formal opening ceremony was being held at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex as of yesterday presstime. The search for Mutya ng SM Prisaa, dancesports competition and vocal solo contest were set to follow after program.

National Prisaa chair Dr. Emmanuel Angeles and Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario were set to lead the opening rites.