Mo Billacura

Filipino athletes and officials sang the Philippine national anthem on Friday when Willy Wang won a gold medal in demonstration sport, wushu, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Wang bested the efforts of Taipei’s Peng Wei-Chua in the men’s nanquan finals while Malaysia’s Pui Fook Chien settled for the bronze medal.

Wang tallied 19.44 points, Peng had 19.39 and Pui came up with 19.34 points.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo attended the awarding ceremony at the Olympic Center Sports Gymnasium together with sports officials led by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

Info from Carol Angel:

While the Kadayawan festivity is a celebration of bountiful harvests for Davao, the Davao Association of Tennis Clubs, Inc. (DATEC) contributes to the influx of tourists in the City as it opens today its DATEC Prince Kadayawan Doubles Tournament

Sponsored by Sports Resources, Inc., dealer of Prince Racquets, Ms. Lisa Enciso-Labrador  arrived yesterday to personally witness the opening ceremony to be held at the Eco2 Tennis Courts in Ecoland Subdivision. Ms. Labrador has extended to DATEC its interest in giving its full support to the activities of DATEC and has in fact committed that the Kadayawan Tournament is now among its major activities supported by them.

DATEC President, Atty.Ed Caboverde already received from Prince, the racquets set to be distributed to the Champions of all categories , including trophies and medals. Tshirts have been provided to the first 100 participants. Since entries have reached to 190 players, the balance has been provided by the DATEC.

DATEC acknowledges support of  Tennis Pro owner, Rey Castillo , who has always been very supportive of DATEC activities by way of  discounted ball provisions,. Likewise, Councilor Leo Avila has committed to supply part of the ball requirements.

RDR Cup Adventure Group Race set

By Neil Bravo

DAVAO DEL NORTE—Brace yourselves for this one.

In one of its boldest moves so far in constructing the roadwork towards establishing itself as the country’s sports capital, Davao del Norte ventures into the exciting extreme sports with the staging of the first ever Governor RDR Cup Island to Highland Adventure Group Race on August 31, 2008.

No less than the province’s most popular son in extreme sports—Erwin “Pastor” Emata—the second Filipino to conquer Mt. Everest, laid down his expertise in conceiving a course with deceiving challenges and set amidst a backdrop of picturesque seascape and treacherous landscapes.

The race will be fired off Massed Start in the Island Garden City of Samal, barrelling down to Babak Port where they take on a special event and the first obstacle—the bancathon—all the way to scenic Vanishing Island. From there, the entourage will be ferried to Panabo City where they will be fired off in their mountain bikes according to pole position and time difference. The trek will pass through four towns–Carmen, Sto. Tomas, Kapalong and Asuncion—all going through assortment of stages including biking, running and scootering.

From Asuncion, the participants wrap up the race through Tagum City with a bevy of challenges before heading to the finish line at the Provincial Capitol.

“It is going to be a fun-filled race. Not too hard but not too easy. Just the right mix of fun and adventure,” Emata said after sampling the course himself in six hours last Tuesday.

It could be faster than six hours, depending on the weather on Sunday and the special events, Emata added.

A whopping P30,000 will go to the winner of the three-man event. The second placer gets P20,000 and the third will take home P10,000. Fourth to tenth finishers will pocket P3,000 each.

The race is organized under the Agenda for Games and Recreation: Kabataan Ilayo sa Drugs (AGR KIDS) of the Provincial Sports Development Program headed by Provincial Sports Coordinator Anthony G. Del Rosario.

The Province of Davao del Norte, under the leadership of Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario, is being groomed to become the country’s emerging sports capital.

The Kadayawan Festival celebrations will be more colorful with the coming of actors who will play a basketball game dubbed Mayor Rody and Inday Sara Duterte-Kadayawan Basketball with the Stars on August 22, 5 p.m., at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon leads the team composed of Ian Veneracion, Joko Diaz, Dennis Padilla, Bayani Agbayani, Joross Gamboa, Carlos Morales, Jestoni Alarcon, Gean Padilla, Emilio  Garcia, Patrick dela Rosa, Philip Salvador and Bong Hawkins.

The actors will be facing the Davao City Executives lead by Christopher “Bong” Go in the one game feature sponsored by Maxan Trucking.

The event adds to the upcoming RRD-Inday Sara Kadayawan Commercial Basketball Tournament that is planned to start on August 20 to 24 featuring the Zamboanga Amores, Montana Pawnshop, Manny Pacquiao Team and Davao Collegiate All-Stars.

The University of Mindanao Wildcats made the adjustments at the start of the second quarter to rip the Rizal Memorial Colleges Bulldogs, 95-82 in the 2008 Champions League-Davao Eliminations, Sunday night, at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Arnold Adormeo led the Wildcats, who trailed in the first quarter 19-22, with 20 points and Edgar Awitin added 18 baskets while Mohaliden Distancia topscored for the losing side with 26 points.

The Wildcats clinched their second win in three outings and tied the top post with Emar College but will be relegated to the No.2 spot in Group A based on the team that beats the other rule. Emar defeated the Wildcats on opening day, 86-79.

Bulldogs coach Marlon Lucnagan protested the entry of the veteran Awitin in the crucial third game pointing out that the UM player did not play in the first two games particularly against Emar College where they lost. “Wala sya sa line-up,” said Lucnagan.

UM sports director Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia, however, said that there was nothing wrong with the entry of Awitin in the crucial third game because during their meeting, it was agreed that teams are allowed to submit even up to 20 players as long as they follow the 15 to play rule.

In group B, the Jose Maria College Kings and Agro-Industrial Foundation College Sailors will also be playing crucial games to determine the rankings before going to the semifinal round of the tournament supported by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte and sanctioned by BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Regional Director Regino “Boy” Cua.

The Davao champion will advance to the Regional Area finals against South Cotabato, Sarangani, Gen.Santos City and Maguindanao teams.

The scores:
University of Mindanao (95)- Adormeo 20, Awitin 18, Mendoza 14, Fernandez 11, Rosauro 7, Cesniros 5, Galacgac 3, Angalan 2, Apurada 2, Barbieros 2.

Rizal Memorial Colleges (82)- Distancia 26, Planas 23, Rodriguez 13, Gabatan 6, Bayang 4, Neri 3, Ydulzura 3, Abao 2.

1983 Tour ng Pilipinas veteran Paterno Genon will be buried on Tuesday at the Ulas Cemetery.

Members of the cycling community will be paying their last respects to the veteran who died of cardiac arrest at his home in Ulas on August 9. He was 67 years old. He is survived by his wife Lina, sons Glen, Pat Jr., Ricky, Rene Boy and daughters Lenie, May, Mary Jean, Peachy and Jackie Lyn.

Genon saw action in the 1976 Tour of Luzon with Davao Team members Romeo Oca, Eusebio Candia, Marcial Nonan, Ely and Efren Quirino and Felino Cono  and gained a spot in the Mindanao Team for the 1983 Tour ng Pilipinas with Oca, Cono, Celso Losaria, Danilo Sabes.

“He is one of Davao’s tough riders,” said PhilCycling regional director Salvador Paholio Jr.

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National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Davao Chapter Statement Condemning the Shooting of Dennis Cuesta

August 7, 2008

We condemn this atrocity befalling our colleague Dennis Cuesta of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)- dxMD in General Santos City.

Cuesta used to work with RMN-dxDC Davao before transferring to General Santos City.

We are anguished by the thought of our colleague fighting for his life at a hospital in General Santos City after criminals pumped bullets in his head last Monday.

The recurrence of such dastardly crime is yet another proof that authorities are a failure in performing their obligation of prosecuting and punishing criminals.

With this incident, impunity, once more, stares us in the eye - a grim reminder of the sad reality of how dangerous still the territory remains for media persons to operate.

Cuesta is known for tackling commentaries on controversial issues like illegal gambling, graft and corruption in government and illegal drugs in his public affairs program “Straight to the Point.”

But we will not be fazed by this yet another attempt to petrify the press with fear.

We demand authorities to find the links that will lead to the solution of Cuesta’s shooting and leave no stone unturned in the quest for justice! We demand authorities to run after the criminals and masterminds and bring them to jail!

For Reference:

Carmelito Francisco

Chairperson, NUJP Davao

******NUJP calls on all colleagues and media organizations to observe a moment of prayer, at 3  pm tomorrow (Friday), during which, journalists in General Santos City will be lighting candles right at the spot where Cuesta was shot.

Agro-Industrial Foundation College and Emar College started on a high note with separate victories in the Davao eliminations of the 2008 Champion’s League, Saturday, at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The Agro Sailors fought the Ateneo de Davao University Blue Knights in a see-saw battle before navigating to a 76-71 win. Joseph Ambohot and Eugene Torres provided the firepower in the last one minute and eight seconds to secure the victory.

Richard Madelo and Nat Sencio made three-point shots that cut Agro’s lead to just two, 73-71, 13 seconds remaining but the taller Agro cagers stepped up when their services were needed the most.

In the first game of the Davao eliminations sanctioned by BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and supported by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, Emar College managed to stop University of Mindanao, 86-79.

Games will be played every Saturdays and Sunday with the winners advancing to the Zonal finals against teams from Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and Socsargen late this month.

The scores:
(First Game)

Emar College (86)- Jimenez 25, Delica 24, Walingan 16, Caminse 6, Bitoy 6, Josol 4, Bantilan 4, Davide 1.

University of Mindanao (79)- Angalan 24, Galacgac 18, Plata 12, Mendoza 9, Silvarez 5, Barbieros 4, Adormeo 2, Casneros 2, Rosauro 2, Apurada 1.

(Second Game)
Agro-Industrial Foundation College (76)- Curso 20, Torres 18, Ardinio 11, Ruiz 10, Caminade 8, Ambohot 5, Abenita 4.

Ateneo de Davao University (71)- Madelo 25, Cabigas 12, Catre 11, Claveria 9, Pagdalian 5, Hiquial 4, Sencio 3, Fortinez 1, Awad 1.

The future of sports in the Philippines is getting a shot in the arm with the revitalization of the Philippine Sports Institute.

PSC Chairman William I. Ramirez who is an athlete, coach, educator and sports leader recognizes the significant value of the PSIin the achievement of sports excellence in the country. He pointed out that the Institute is “the missing link” in the promotion and development of sports in the Philippines and our becoming competitive in the world of sports.

In an effort to reverse the downhill slide of sports in the country due to unscientific coaching and training, and poor sports administration, the PSIaccording to Ramirez “will become the Center for Training and Development of elite athletes in various sports disciplines as well as the education resource center in the preparation of qualified and competent sports leaders, educators, and sports specialists.”

Chairman Ramirez declared that the PSI located at ULTRAin Pasig Gty will be lithe country’s Sports University that will serve the need for high performance training of elite athletes and the educational enhancement of the sports and physical education profession. ” While other countries have long established their national sports institutes or academies and reaped the golden fruits of their programs, it is never too late to start our very own to give our Filipino athletes a sporting chance for glory and gold in the Olympics, Ramirez added.

The PSIaccording to Ramirez will be the arm of the PSC in providing High Performance Training for the national players in various sports disciplines. To ensure the attainment of the fullest potentials of the Filipino athletes, the Institute will provide scientifically based high performance training through the
Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Sciences and the Department of Research to ensure success
and excellence. Likewise,distinguished experts and coaches from foreign countries will be tapped using
the bilateral agreements signed by the Philippine Government with foreign countries.

In the absence of an institution that offers doctoral degree in sports and physical education in
the Philippines, Ramirez pointed out that the PSI will pioneer in offering a Ph. D.in Sports Administration
as well as Master of Science degrees with areas of specialization in Sports Coaching, Sports
Management, Wellness and lifestyle Management and probably Sports Medicine. Chairman Ramirez
cited that distinguished experts and sports educators from various countries with outstanding sports
and physical education programs will be assembled to serve as pool of experts and lecturers for the
programs. To support the program of the Institute, Chairman Ramirez earmarked SMillion pesos for the
establishment of the most comprehensive sports library in the country and the inclusion of an E-library
to link the Institute to the libraries and resources around the world.

Recognizing that majority of the coaches in the Philippines are lacking in professional preparation to coach effectively, Ramirez said that the PSI will provide the training and educational preparation for coaches through the Continuing Education Program for coaches and sports practitioners.
Certificate programs for coaching, sports administration, fitness and leadership will be offered by the
Institute to address the competency problems of coaches in the Philippines. Furthermore, he said that a
National coaching Certification Standards and accreditation will be implemented to ensure that all
individuals wanting to coach posses the necessary training and competencies to promote excellence in
performance of their athletes.

According to Chairman Ramirez, the PSIwill be able to serve the needs of the National Sports Associations in the training of their athletes and coaches, the Higher Education Institutions, Department of Education, Private Schools, Colleges and Universities, as well as corporate and religious organizations, local government units, the youth and the country as a whole in promoting excellence and national
pride through sports.

As a whole, the Philippine Sports Institute is actually laying a strong foundation for Philippine sports as it aims to produce a new breed of athletes and sports professionals, sports leaders, and specialists with high levels of competence, ethical, moral values and strong commitment to excellence in sport and in life. With the strong support of the PSC Board of Commissioners and the positive feedbacks from sports professionals and leaders for the PSI,a new dawn in Philippine sports has arrived.