Friday, February 01, 2008 3rd Davao Baseball Cup set By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE 3rd Davao City Baseball Cup opens on February 23 and 24 at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina campus field.
This was bared by Davao City Baseball Association (DCBA) president Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia, Datu Uchida Development Foundation, Inc. (DUDF) sports director Yusuke Uchida and Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School administrator Ines Mallari during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn Thursday.
Sarabia said DUDF, through Yusuke Uchida, donated baseball equipment to be given away to participating schools of the league that features the elementary and high school categories.
"We are privileged to receive first-class baseball equipment from the Uchida Foundation. The school teams will really benefit from this equipment and the exposure they will get from the competition," Sarabia said.
Mallari, however, said this year's turnout of entries decreased since some teams could not comply with the requirement of the players' original birth certificates from the National Statistics Office.
"An NSO certificate would cost P150 to P250, which a player from far-flung barangay school couldn't afford. We've talked with Yusuke that the foundation might also support the kids in that aspect next year," she said.
Mallari said the 13 elementary teams and four high school teams entered this year will not spend any amount for competing in the Cup just like in the past two stagings.
Each participating team will receive a transportation subsidy of P2,000 for the duration of the two-day event, lunch, baseball equipment, t-shirts for players and souvenir shirts for coaches.
A cash prize of P8,000 awaits the champion team in both divisions along with a champion's trophy, plaque, baseball equipment and free victory party dinner at the Apo View Hotel courtesy of major sponsors Tokyo Kichijoji Club of Tokyo, Japan and Japan-Philippines Industry Council.
The runner-up teams will each claim P4,000 cash, plaque and baseball equipment while the third placers will pocket P2,000 each, plaque and baseball equipment in the tournament that also has the support of PNJKIS and Hon. Consul Hiroshi Mitsuya as minor sponsors.
Defending champion LT. C. Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School leads the roster of teams in the elementary category where the Armed Forces of the Philippines Logistic Command Elementary School, Baguio Central Elementary School, Bayabas ES, C.B. Bangoy ES. Calinan Central ES, Catalunan Grande ES, Mulig ES, PNJKIS, Riverside ES, Sta. Ana Central ES and Wangan ES are also entered.
PNJKIS is also seeing action in the high school division along with Calinan National High School, Crossing Bayabas NHS and F. Bustamante NHS.
Mallari said a coaches' meeting is set on Feb. 6 at the PNJKIS at 9 a.m. while the umpires' clinic is on Feb. 20 also at PNJKIS at 9 a.m.
She added the league was earlier set to open on February 8 but had to be reset since it would conflict with Davao City teams' preparations for the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in Mati, Davao Oriental.
Uchida, with his baseball expertise, will help train Davraa-bound baseball teams that are also set to compete in the 3rd Davao City Baseball Cup.
