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Saturday, November 20, 2004
USA Sports jam underway
By Marianne L. Saberon
CLOSE to 50 teams will vie for honors in three divisions of the first-ever USA Sports 3-on-3 Jam that gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) sports complex in Matina campus.
Tournament director Marlon Malbog of the organizing Top Sports Advantage Inc. (TSAI), said: "We expect 20 teams competing in both college and high school divisions while ten teams seeing action in the open event."
Malbog, however, said he could not identify the top-seeds since most teams are bannered by varsity players.
"I think the entries are very competitive in their own right. It will still be anybody's ballgame," said Malbog during a press conference at the Mezzanine room of the Regency Inn Thursday afternoon.
TSAI operations director Joseph Encabo said, "UM (University of Mindanao) is back. It is good that UM is joining the event after missing action in the GS (Gaisano South) Cup. We are very glad of its entry."
Observers said UM's entry may revive its rivalry with Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) in the collegiate division.
Encabo said Sta. Ana might pull off a surprise in the high school category where perennial foes Ateneo and Holy Child School of Davao are the heavy favorites.
"I've seen Sta. Ana team play. It is a strong team," Encabo said.
He added the rules of the USA Sports Jam are different from other 3-on-3 tournaments.
Area marketing manager Maeshyl Sia confirmed this, saying, "The USA Sports Jam is a school-based basketball tournament. The crowd and supporters can also take part as we have lined up side-court events for the two-day activity."
Encabo added, "The shot clock is 15 seconds. The coach has the sole authority of its team while in other 3-on-3 tournaments, the team captains take control."
Sia said a cash prize of P4,000 will each go to the champions of the three divisions. They will also receive trophies and medals.
The runners-up will get medals.
Cebu City-based general sales manager Manuel Degamo said, "We are not only introducing our new product line, basketball, with this event. We really want to promote sports awareness in Davao."
(November 20, 2004 issue)
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