All set for ‘Araw’ cagefest

THE green light is on for the staging of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tournament that will unfurl on March 12 to 15 at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.

William "Butch" Ramirez of the organizing Liga Dabaw Inc. bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Dexter's Pizza Stadium along McArthur Highway in Matina on Thursday.

Ramirez said the much-awaited league will be participated by regular entries Montaña Pawnshop, Goldstar Hardware and The Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) with newcomer Team Villar that replaced Cebu City-based M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala (MLKP).

"MLKP backed out a few days ago since some of its players have commitments in Manila," Ramirez said.

He assured, however, that level of competition will still be high considering the strong rosters of teams this year.

He also thanked Dexter's Pizza Stadium owner Bai Lim for sponsoring the cash prizes for the three-point shootout and slam dunk champions for the four-day tournament, saying: "We appreciate the gesture of Dexter's Pizza Stadium in trying to add color to the league. Every day there will be a special side event that basketball enthusiasts will be looking forward to."

Lim, for her part, said, "We are very excited to be a part of this tournament."

The teams

Montaña Pawnshop head coach Nick Serafica, meanwhile, bared they will do their best to defend their title.

"We have three imports and talented local players in the team. We have the advantage since most of our players haved been together for a long time," Serafica said in the vernacular.

Montaña is composed of Ronald Lamocha, Tibs Blanco, Leo Fernandez, Don Adormeo, Bonbon Bulac, Josh Adalid, Nestor Martinez, Jano Nuñez, Edgar Awitin and JR de Guzman with Devon Sullivan and Dino Daa as imports. The other import has yet to be named as of Thursday.

Goldstar Hardware assistant coach Rhoderick Conda said their import will arrive on Monday. They will also parade the services of Leomer Losentes, Edmar Patenio, Doy Colina, Jay Cabañog, Dado Ayson, Marlon Basco, Pong Escobal, Junar Pinto and Sam Ekwe.

The Miguel Solitaria-coached and Glenn Escandor-owned TRMH-VMO, which is being considered as the dark horse, will lean on Julius Pasculado, Ramsey Williams, Lou Gatumbato, Chris Calaguio, Jojo Tangkay, Francis Adriano, Mark Jeffries, Hafer Mondragon, JR Gerilla, Ervin Sotto, Mark Andaya, Cedric Happi, John Ferriols, Mark Magsumbol, Al Vergara and Justin Williams.

Solitaria said, "TRMH is a selection of good players. Each one of them has outstanding individual talent but our greatest challenge is to motivate them to work as one team."

Newcomer Joseph Sebastian-managed Team Villar, to be mentored by Tony Chiong, will have Chester Tolomia, Christian Nicdao, John Villaver, Erian Daja, Jonathan Parreño, Chris Concepcion, Darwin Cordero, David Sebastian, Oca delos Reyes, Rolando Navarro, John Yap and Fritz Vesagas.

Prizes at stake

A whopping cash prize of P100,000 awaits the champion team, while the runner-up will settle for P75,000. The next two placers will receive P50,000 and P30,000. Each team will also claim participation fee of P20,000 each.

The most valuable player will pocket P5,000 in the cagefest sanctioned by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Mindanao Cluster B director Regino "Boy" Cua and sponsored by the City Government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office.

Cua also donated two Molten balls for each participating team.

Admission is free at Almendras Gym. Games will start every 5:30 p.m. on March 12 to 15.