A TOTAL of 20 teams are competing in the 14th Davao City Baseball Cup slated February 7 and 8 at Lt. Col. Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School in Calinan, Davao City.

Organizer Datu Uchida Development Foundation's Ines P. Mallari, also president of Philippine Nikkie Jin Kai International School and Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku, bared this in a recent interview with SunStar Davao.

She said, "The elementary and secondary divisions will each have 10 teams. The free registration was on a first come first served basis. Those who submitted their entries first were accommodated. We did not accept more than 10 teams in each category since it would be difficult to squeeze all games in just two days."

These teams joined the Jica initiative Mindanao Youth Baseball Camp 2020 held at Davao City National High School on January 11 wherein Japan's professional baseball team Yomiuri Giants coaches conducted the clinic.

High School defending champion Baguio National School of Arts and Trades will try to retain its crown against Buhisan National High School (BNHS), Calinan NHS, Crossing Bayabas NHS, Digos City NHS, Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Sinobong NHS of Veruela, Agusan del Sur, Sta. Maria NHS and Upian NHS.

Meanwhile, elementary division defending champion Lt. Col. Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School will face stiff opposition against Baguio Central Elementary School, Bayabas Integrated School, Buhisan ES, Calinan Central ES, Vedasto F. Corcuera ES, Maniki Central ES Sped Center of Kapalong, Davao del Norte, Tugbok CES and Upian ES.

Cash prizes of P10,000 await the champion team in each division while the next two teams will bag P5,000 and P2,500 in the tournament backed by the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club, Masatoshi Watanabe, Yakult Probiotics, Jica, Consulate General of Japan in Davao, Philippine Sports Commission and Davao City Government.

The most valuable players in both divisions will take home P1,000 each. Trophies, medals and plaques will also be awarded.

Just like in the past 13 years, teams will receive transportation subsidy, free lunch packs and baseball equipment in the event jointly organized by DUDF, PNJKIS, MKD, Department of Education Davao City Division and Davao City Baseball Association.