DC basketball community mourn death of Kobe Bryant

DAVAO CITY---The basketball community of Davao City has joined millions of basketball fans all over the world in mourning the untimely death of National Basketball Association legendary guard Kobe "Black Mamba Bryant" due to helicopter crash yesterday (Philippine time).
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas region 11 program director Ronel Leuterio has expressed shocked  and sadness over the death of Bryant, the legendary guard of Los Angeles Lakers.
In his Facebook post, Leuterio took time to credit Bryant for living each day as it is his last day on earth and for being one of the true legends in the NBA.
"Rest in Peace, Kobe," Leuterio said.
Local basketball organizer and current National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Davao City commissioner Aldin Celi expressed sadness over the death of Brynt whom he consider as one of his NBA idols.
"Sakit kaayu madunog nga namatay siya (Bryant) uy iyahang anak," Celi said.
Celi also took time to thank Bryant for the inspiration he gave him in his life.
Thommy Collados, basketball coach of Mats College of Technology Navigators also expressed sadness over the death of Bryant.
Collados said Bryant served as inspiration to him as a college  basketball and a former basketball player.
"Isa si Kobe sa mga naka motivate sa mga young athletes," Collados said.
Holy Cross of Davao College Crusaders coach Rocky Mejos said the death of Bryant is a huge loss to the global basketball community.
Mejos said Bryant is an icon that inspired a lot of athletes all over the world.
Ginebra San Miguel guard and Digos City native PBA star Scottie Thompson also offered his respect to the death of Bryant.
"Paalam idol," Thompson said in his Facebook post.
Moreover, VJ Marquez, a local college basketball player of Holy Cross of Davao College is also heartbroken on the death of Bryant.
Marquez who idolizes Bryant placed a heartbroken and sadness icon on his Facebook account.
Bryant who hold the second highest scoring record in the NBA at 81 points died with his daughter Gianna, 13 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday.
Bryant and his daughter are set to attend a basketball camp in California when the tragedy occurred.

Cor Jesu Red Cubs gets back to back NBTC Digos Crown

Cor Jesu Red Cubs will represent Digos City in the NBTC regional finals in Davao City in February.

DAVAO CITY---For the second straight year the Cor Jesu College Red Cubs has won the Digos City eliminations of
the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) last January 19 at the Barangay Government Center Zone 2 in Digos City, Davao del Sur.
The taller Red Cubs use their experience to beat the younger and lesser known school Doc Alternatibo Research and Development Foundation 98-65 to win the coveted NBTC crown.
Red Cubs center Joshua Sardua scored 27 points mostly on inside incursions to carry his team to victory against the surprised finalist Doc Alternatibo School.
The Red Cubs who are on a mission to win the NBTC region 11 crown this year after missing it last year started strong in the game as they take a 27-24 lead in the first quarter.
The Red Cubs considered as one of the basketball powerhouses in Digos City continued to hold on their lead until the final buzzer.
Meanwhile, Christian Banate scored 10 points for Dok Alternatibo School in a losing cause.
A total of six high school competed in the NBTC Digos leg.
The winner in the NBTC Digos leg will compete in the NBTC Regionals in Davao City in February.
NBTC Davao City commissioner Aldin Celi earlier said the winner of the regional elimination will compete in the NBTC national finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in March 2020.
The newly-appointed NBTC commissioner said the tournament was formed to promote basketball at the grassroots level.
"One of the players who is a product of NBTC is Vince Petdeo Cuajao who formerly played for the Holy Child Red Eagles. He is now a member of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers," he said.

Asuncion, Mantilla top APM Juniors and Kiddies Chess Tourney

The top winners of the chessest aimed to promote chess at the grassroots level. Photo: Jojo Palero

DAVAO CITY---Promising Davaoeno chess wizards Gino Angelo Asuncion and Caerel Shane Mantilla ruled the APM Juniors and Kiddies Chess Tournament at the Damosa Market Basket in Lanang here last January 19.
Both Asuncion and Mantilla are two of the top young chessers of this city and are veteran of many local and national chess tournaments.
Asuncion, a student of San Pedro College won the juniors division of the chessfest after scoring 4.5 points after seven rounds.
Taking the second place in the division is Wesley Jovan Magbanua of Jose Maria College who scored four points.
The third place went to Neil Sebastian Enoc, also of San Pedro College.
Meanwhile, Mantilla, student of University of Mindanao won the kiddies category of the chessfest after scoring five points.
The second place went to Yrel Josh Hernani of Pathway Christian Academy who scored four points.
The third place went to Princess Diana Simbajon of Tawad Enchevarria Elementary School in Mandug here.
All the winners receive cash and medals as prizes.
The chess tournament was earlier organized by Jojo Palero, Ely Acas and Alfred Moulic to promote chess at the grassroots in region 11.

Professional Japanese baseball coach impressed with baseball skills of Mindanao kids

Shota Kimura, pitching coach of Yomiuri Giants share some baseball tips to the campers.



DAVAO CITY---A professional Japanese baseball coach is impressed with the baseball skills of some teenagers from Mindanao who attended their baseball clinic at the Davao City National High School on January 11.
Shota Kimura, pitching coach of Yomiuri Giants one of the top professional baseball club in Japan is happy and surprised with the baseball skills of the 300 elementary and high school baseball player from different parts of Mindanao who attended their baseball clinic.
Through an interpreter, Kimura also said that he is happy to share some important tips on pitching to the participants of the one day baseball clinic.
Aside from pitching, the Giants also thought the campers the fundamentals of baseball and other matters regarding one of the most popular sports in the world.
The one of a kind of baseball clinic was earlier organized by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in cooperation with the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJKIS), Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku and Department of Education (Deped) Davao City Division.
PNJKIS president Ines P. Mallari said the baseball clinic is aimed to promote the sport of baseball in the grassroots and to deepen the relationship of the Philippine and Japan.
Guesting before the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Annex of SM City Davao last January 9, Mallari said all of the participants in the baseball camp are the players who will join their annual Baseball Cup on February 7-8 in Calinan, Davao City.
"Some of the children joining the baseball camp are kids from Kapalong, Davao del Norte and Veruela in Agusan del Sur," Mallari said.

Veteran Davao runners rule 1st Tagum Trail Run

A total of 190 runners joined the race. Photo: 1st Tagum Trail Run

DAVAO CITY---Veteran runners from Davao City were the big winners in the 1st Tagum Trail Run at the Rotary Park, San Agustin, Tagum City, Davao del Norte last January 12.
Elias Tabac ruled the 16-kilometer race for men with a time of one hour, seven minutes and six seconds.
Tabac a veteran of many local and international trail running races won P2,000 cash and a trophy as prizes.
The second place went to Chiong Cain (1:10:40) who won P1,500 cash and a trophy.
The third place went to Mark Anthony Rance  (1:14:33) whp won P1,000 cash and a trophy.
In the distaff side, Davaoeno Julie Naa Morales won the 16-kilometer race with a time of one hour, 42 minutes and three seconds.
Morales, also a veteran of many local trail running races won P2,000 cash and a trophy.
The second place went to Ricelle Mae Taberna (1:48:04) who won P1,500 cash and a trophy.
The third place went to Ging Mascarinas (1:52:01) who won P1,000 cash a trophy.
Aside from the regular winners some special prizes were also given after the race such as the biggest delegation that went to Twingym runner.
The group won P1,500 and a trophy.
Juress Ann Calapre also won a trophy for winning the turtle of the race award.
A total of 190 runners all over Mindanao joined the first ever trail running event in Tagum City.

7,500 runners set to join 7-Eleven Run 2020 Davao Leg

The 7-Eleven Run 2020 race organizers present to the media the race kit of the participants.


DAVAO CITY---Some 7,500 runners all over Mindanao are expected to join the Davao leg of the 7-Eleven Run 2020 at the SM City Davao grounds on February 1-2.
The run which is on its second edition is more bigger and grander in terms of participants and prizes.
Michelle Santillan a member of the race operation team revealed last year only 5,000 runners joined the race and this year the number has increased.
Santillan said this year the prizes are also bigger and they added two more races this year the 21 kilometer relay race and 42 kilometer relay race.
"There are more participants this year because more people are aware of our running event," Santillan said
In a press-conference at the 7-Eleven head office in Mamay Road, Lanang here last January 10, Santillan said the relay team would comprise of four members of boys and girls.
Santillan said the winner of the relay races will win P20,000 in the 21 kilometers and P40,000 in the 42 kilometers.
"Aside from the individual and team winners all the participants will also receive goodies at the end of the race," she said.
She said in the individual races the 42 kilometer run winner will get P20,000.
"The top performers in the Davao, Cebu and Manila legs will also get the chance to compete abroad somewhere in Asia," she said.
Santillan said the runner from the Davao leg that they brought abroad was 2019 SEA Games women's marathon gold medallist Christine Hallasco in Phuket, Thailand.
Meanwhile, Davao leg technical coordinator Tomas Tan said this year's route will be shorter compared in 2019.
Tan said the 42K races will start at 11 p.m. of February 1 and will end the following day, February 2, where the rest of the categories including 3K, 5K, 5K buddy run, 10K, 16K, 21K, 21K relay and 32K will kick off.
"This year's route will pass through Quimpo Boulevard, Quirino Avenue then turn left to J.P. Laurel Avenue passing Victoria Plaza Mall, Abreeza, SM Lanang and turning around to corner R. Castillo Street passing Tropika Hotel and back to origin," Tan told reporters who attended the press briefing.