8th Davao Baseball Cup kicks off at UM Matina

THE 8th Davao City Baseball Cup is all set to open at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina grounds.

Davao City Baseball Association (DCBA) president Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia, who was a guest along with chief organizer Ines P. Mallari of the Datu Uchida Development Foundation (DUDF) in Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Calle Cinco, said the two-day tournament will feature eight elementary and seven public High School teams with Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJKIS) also fielding a team in each division.

Sarabia said the annual meet, jointly organized by DCBA, DUDF and Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Inc. (PNJKI), had been staged every February the past seven years but will be held in March this year to capitalize on the start of the summer season.

"It rained when we conducted the tournament in February last year," Sarabia said.

The Baguio Central Elementary School will try to defend its elementary title against Talomo Central, Antonio Pichon, PNJKIS, Catalunan Grande, Magsaysay, Don Francisco Dizon, Mulig and Crossing Bayabas.

Crossing Bayabas National High School, meanwhile, will try to keep its High School crown at the expense of Baguio (BNSAT), F. Bustamante, HCCC, PNJKIS, Baguio High School of Agriculture, Pablo Lorenzo and Mintal teams.

Mallari, for her part, said the Davao City elementary selection team will then play an exhibition match against Matsudo Angels, a little league baseball team, from Japan after the championship matches.

"This is the very first time that a Japan baseball team will play against our local players. This is a game we shouldn't miss," Mallari said.

The Matsude Angels is bannered by nine to 12 years old players.

Cash prizes

Cash prizes await the top three teams in every category. The champion teams will each receive P8,000 cash, trophy, plaque, medal for each player and baseball equipment while the next two placers will claim P4,000 and P2,000 with plaques and baseball equipment.

Each MVP will pocket P1,000 and a medal.

Participating teams will also get free baseball equipment, lunch for two days, Yakult and free clinic from noted Japanese coaches.

The Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club is major sponsor of the knockout format competition that is also backed up by PNJKI, Philippines-Yakult Probiotics Inc., Shogakuji Temple in Fuchu City, Tokyo, Kazuma Sports, Funasho Shoji Company, Tokyo and Del Monte Company.

Other supporters include Coach Hidetoshi Suzuki, Masaaki Uchida, Katsuhiko Tamura, Tomoya Katayama, Atsushi Matsuzaki, Nitten Company, Tokyo, Consul Koichi Ibara, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Department of Education, Lt. Col. Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School, Wangan Elementary School, Michael Seville and family, Letecia Manito, Frezcon and Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku.