Thursday, August 21, 2008 Commercial cagefest kicks off By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte-Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Kadayawan Commercial Basketball Tournament kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Almendras Gym.
Mayor Duterte and Vice Mayor Duterte are guests in the opening rites of the four-team cagefest sanctioned by the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) regional director Regino "Boy" Cua.
Davao City's Collegiate All-Stars, Montaña Pawnshop Davao, Zamboanga de Amores and Manny Pacquiao Team will battle for honors and huge cash prizes at stake.
Organizers said the champion team will go home with P50,000 while the next three placers will also receive cash prizes.
Zamboanga, however, has yet to arrive. The Chavacanos reportedly had a problem passing through Lanao del Norte that was recently attacked by Moro International Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
"We are hoping that Zamboanga could really come, play and join us in our celebration of the Kadayawan," one of the organizers said.
Montaña, coached by Nick Serafica, is bannered by Michael Mañigo, Robert Allan Quibod, Ryan Abanes, Desederio Ayson, Charlie Braga, Linde Dawal, Jonel Jawod, Jonathan Endrinal, Ronald Lamocha, Hendry Fernandez, Rocky Jezzer Claviel, Marvin Poloyapoy, Harold Cruz, and Tommy Collados with assistant coaches Flordelito Cagampang and Peter Epi.
The Davao Collegiate All-Stars, meanwhile, is composed mainly of University of Mindanao (UM) Wildcats. It will also be coached by lawyer Manny Nitorreda.
On Friday, a basketball with the stars exhibition match with the Davao City Executives led by city sports coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go will serve as curtain raiser of the second day of the Kadayawan cage loop.
Drawing of lots will determine the games schedule of the single round-robin meet.
