Panabo, Tagum beat rivals in ‘Araw’ softball

VISITING Panabo City and Tagum City teams axed debut wins at the start of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte Softball Open Tournament held at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina recently.

Panabo edged Digos City, 5-4, while Tagum nipped Davao City Water District, 8-7, in the men's open division. The Tadeco squad also drew first blood by thrashing University of Mindanao, 10-0, in the meet presented by the city government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office.

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.

Araw ng Dabaw arnis tourney set Sunday

THE Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Arnis Tournament will get underway on Sunday at the Barangay Angliongto covered court.

Arnis Philippines Davao head Mario Palazuelo bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Calle Cinco Restobar along J.P. Laurel Avenue on Thursday.

Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp on April 1-2

SOME 300 players from all over Mindanao and other parts of the Visayas are expected to join the Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp slated April 1 and 2 at the University of the Philippines (Usep) Gymnasium and Cultural Center.

Neb Bulaclac, Davao leg host Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. marketing supervisor, said they have been receiving inquiries from players of Cebu, Leyte and Zamboanga.

Boom-Boom all set to defend title vs Mexican in Davao City

THE date is set. The venue is ready. All eyes will be on Davao City as Filipino Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista puts his WBO International featherweight belt on the line against Mexican knockout artist Jose "Negro" Ramirez in the main event of the Pinoy Pride XIX on April 20 at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gymnasium and Cultural Center.

8th Davao Baseball Cup at DSA Forum at Calle 5

THE 8th Davao Baseball Cup is the main topic when the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum resumes at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, at Calle Cinco Restobar along J.P. Laurel Avenue.

Datu Uchida Development Foundation Inc. (DUDFI) sports director Yusuke Uchida and officer-in-charge Ines P. Mallari lead the panel of guests in the edition hosted by Calle Cinco owner Jonathan Traya and 177 Advertising owner Amik Mending.

Amazona, Dizon cop 16U titles

TOP-SEEDS Jeleardo Amazona of Mati City, Davao Oriental and Jenni Celine Dizon of Davao City lived up to their billing by bagging the 16-under titles of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Age-Group Tennis Championships held at GSIS Heights Tennis Club in Matina over the weekend.

Amazona, who won't be seeing action in a Palarong Pambansa for the very first time, survived past Christian Fel Lopez of the Island Garden City of Samal, 6-4, 7-5 in boys' finals.

Crocs, Sakya rule football tournament

THE Crocs Football Club (FC) and Sakya ruled their respective divisions in the just-concluded 76th Araw ng Dabaw Sportsfest Football Tournament held at Tionko field.

Crocs FC captured the eight-under title at the expense of Blackrose FC of Malita and Ateneo Blue that placed second and third, respectively.

Belarmino, Dejiga top Dalawahan

THE tandem of May Belarmino and Emy Dejiga stamped their rivals to capture the title of the SBC Weekly Dalawahan Tournament held at Fairlanes Bowling Center on Sunday evening.

Belarmino and Dejiga hit a total of 529 pinfalls after two games in the weekly qualifying organized by the Sunday Bowlers Club.

Enobio, Macapundag emerge dama champs

CERILO Enobio and Warito Macapundag emerged champions in their respective classes at the close of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Dama Tournament held at Osmena Park over the weekend.

Enobio topped class A to win the top cash prize of P5,000, while Romeo Go got the runner-up prize of P3,000. Daniel Abor and Domingo Alquino went home with P2,000 and P1,000 for finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Pampanga bet stuns Dabawenyo, captures ‘Araw’ 9-ball crown

ANGELO Ariola of Pampanga emerged champion by beating Rutchell Padal, 7-5, in the finals of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw 9-Ball Billiards Tournament held at NCCC Mall Davao B3 lanes over the weekend.

Ariola pocketed the top purse of P20,000, while Padal settled for the runner-up prize of P10,000 in the two-day knockout elimination cuefest presented by the City Government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office and organized by the Davao Billiards Association Inc. (DBAI).

AdDU bags DFA U16 girls title

THE Ateneo de Davao University edged SOS Children's Village, 4-3, to clinch the title of the just-concluded 2nd DFA U16 Girls Football League held at the Faith Academy Field.

Nina Arrieta hit the first two goals for Ateneo in the third and seventh minutes to take a 2-0 lead but SOS striker Agot Danton netted a goal in the 13th to come close, 1-2. Arrieta, however, again scored in the 30th for a hat trick only to be answered by back-to-back goals from Danton (41st) and Joy dela Torre (52nd) who forced a 3-all standoff.

Palero tops Calinan chess

MARY Israel Palero tallied 6.5 points to rule the 2013 Araw ng Calinan Chess Tournament that came to a close on Sunday at the Calinan Chess Club.

Pedro Flores earned six points to grab the runner-up honors while Adrian John Yap made five points to place third in the two-day Swiss System format chessfest.

Lanaza, Basil earn MMA awards

BEEFIT Python's Pit bet Ruben Lanaza and Alterado Xtreme Combat (AXC) standout John Myron Basil earned special awards after defeating their opponents in the Smokerfigh 11: The Inevitable held at the Kadayawan Hall of the NCCC Mall of Davao Saturday evening.

Lanaza earned the Fight of the Night award after going through three rounds of war against Laguna's Venson Deleporre in their 125-pound bout.

TRMH-VMO guns for 3rd straight title

THE Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) seeks to defend its crown in the Kadayawan this August and make it three straight championship.

Fresh from its triumphant campaign in the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw basketball tournament, TRMH-VMO is now training its sights on the Kadayawan competition which it ruled last year.

Rugby gaining popularity in Philippines

IN THE minds of many Filipinos, playing rugby favors specialization of strength, stamina and speed, from the often light-bodied and light-footed speed to the lumbering, and wrestling.

Who would have thought that an 80-minute long rugby game that is confrontational, tactical, mentally-demanding, and physically grueling, is starting to gain popularity in the Philippines.

TRMH-VMO crowned ‘Araw’ champions

WHO would ever think that newly-crowned Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tournament champion The Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) was only assembled in two weeks.

Yes, it only took two weeks to form the powerhouse cast team that dethroned 2012 Araw ng Dabaw champion Montaña Pawnshop via a 93-85 finals overtime win at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center that was filled to the rafters on Friday evening.

TRMH-VMO sweeps elims, battles Montaña for crown

HEAVY favorite The Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) turned back Goldstar Hardware, 90-83, Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep in the eliminations and set up a titular showdown against defending champions Montaña Pawnshop on Friday evening in the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tournament at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.

Chris Calaguio drilled in 21 points to lift the Glenn Escandor-owned and Christopher "Bong" Go-managed TRMH-VMO squad as teammates Francis Adriano and Mark Andaya contributed 15 and 14, respectively.

Araw ng Dabaw judo set Mar. 20

OVER 100 players will compete for honors in the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Judo Tournament slated March 20 at the Abreeza Mall.

Spokesperson Jay Aseneta, speaking before members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) during their weekly forum at Dexter's Pizza Stadium in Matina on Thursday, said the one-day event will serve as selection of players who will compete in the upcoming Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy Youth Games, thus, the competition will be exclusive for Davao City judokas only.

SOS vs AdDU for G-U16 title

THE SOS Children's Village collides with Ateneo de Davao University for the title of the 2nd Davao Football Association Girls Under-16 Tournament at 9:30 a.m. today, Saturday, at Faith Academy soccer field.

The 7:30 a.m. curtain raiser pits No. 3 team Faith Academy A against No. 4 Hinex for third place.

TRMH-VMO posts 2nd win, upsets Montaña Pawnshop

HIGHLY-touted The Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) rallied in the third period to upset defending champion Montaña Pawnshop, 78-76, on Day 2 of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tournament at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center on Wednesday evening.

The Goldstar Hardware, whose import Jamelle Cornley and other Cebu City-based players were no-show, only fielded five local mainstays in beating Team Villar, 85-82, in the main game.

Smokerfight 11 unfurls Saturday

TEN fights will be featured in the Smokerfight 11-The Inevitable set at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Kadayawan Hall of NCCC Mall Davao.

Organizer Dr. Vincent Vicente, who guested at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Dexer's Pizza Stadium in Matina on Thursday, said multi-titled Rudy Tacogue of Davao City will play Rockytune Batolbatol in the 145 pounds division.

Araw ng Dabaw 9-ball set Saturday, Sunday

VISITING cue artists are expected to pose a threat to homegrown players when the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw 9-Ball Billiards Tournament gets underway on Saturday and Sunday at Jan Carlo Billiard Hall along C.M. Recto Street.

Davao Billiards Association, Inc. (DBAI) president Menlee Migellano bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Dexter's Pizza Stadium along McArthur Highway Matina on Thursday.

Unity Karate Cup kicks off at Gaisano Grand Citimall

SOME 100 participants are expected to see action as the 2013 TKS-Petron Unity Karate Cup kicks off at the Gaisano Grand Citimall entertainment center on Sunday.

Organizing Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao chief Rommel Tan said Davao City is set to defend the championship but players from other teams may pull off surprises.

76th for Tiger Woods

TONY "Tonygars" Garcia (my dad) and Alvin Balajadia had been great friends and golfing buddies for decades. Both of them love telling jokes too. When Tony suddenly falls deathly ill, Alvin comes to visit him on his deathbed, and they started reminiscing about their long friendship. Then Alvin asks, "Listen, Tony, when you die, do me a favor. I want to know if there's golf in Heaven."

Tony says, "We've been great friends for years, this I'll do for you." And then Tony passes away.

Martial arts, billiards DSA topics at Dexter's Stadium

THREE different martial arts competitions and a billiards event are topics to be discussed in the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum set at 10 a.m. today at Dexter's Pizza Stadium in Matina.

Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao chief Rommel Tan, Holiday Judo Club president Paolo Tancontian and Smokerfights organizer Dr. Vincent Vicente are guests along with Davao Billiards Association, Inc. (DBAI) president Menlee Migellano.

‘Araw' age-group tennis opens at GSIS tomorrow

THE Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Age-Group Tennis Tournament gets underway tomorrow, Friday, at the GSIS Heights Tennis Club courts in Matina.

Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) regional vice-president Juanito "Titong" Cansino Jr., also tournament referee, yesterday said the singles draw for 10 years old and under unisex and boys and girls 12-under, 14-under, 16-under and 18-under categories is set at 12 noon today.

Montaña, RMH-VMO axe wins

DEFENDING champion Montaña Pawnshop and heavy favorite The Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) axed debut wins at the start of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw commercial basketball tournament at the jampacked Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center on Tuesday evening.

The Nick Serafica-coached Montaña hacked out a rousing 96-62 win over the Jigger Saniel-mentored Goldstar Hardware behind the heroics of black import Devon Sullivan who poured in 21 points as teammates Don Adormeo and Dino Daa added 13 points each.

Veloso falls, Cansino wins in GSISHTC night netfest

REV. Dexter Veloso lost his second match while Juanito "Titong" Cansino, Jr. beat his first round rival as the 1st GSIS Heights Tennis Club (GSISHTC) Night Singles Tournament resumed over the weekend at GSISHTC in Matina.

Veloso, an 8-3 winner over Alvin Supan in the opener, suffered a heartbreaking 7-8 (5-7) defeat at the hands of Joey Libron in their class B clash. Scott Tubbs, who lost via default last time, breezed past Jin Aniga in walkover while Toto Bisnon whipped Calot Pates, 8-1, to also advance in the same group.

UV dethrones JMC, 77-64 for national students title

THE University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers of Cebu City dethroned defending champion Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings, 77-64, in the 65th National Student Basketball Championships finals held Sunday evening in Don Carlos, Bukidnon.

JMC sports coordinator Mark Alemania, in text messages to Sun.Star Davao on Tuesday, said: "Dagko kaayo ang mga kalaban. Naa pud silay duha ka import nga Negro (Our boys played against bigger and taller players including two black imports)."