RMC Bulldogs win EDSA Anniversary Basketball Tournament title

PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez (4th from left, standing) awards the prize to the Rizal Memorial Colleges Bulldogs for winning the EDSA Anniversary Basketball Tournament, Saturday night, at the Davao City Recreation Center. BAP-SBP Regional Director Regino "Boy" Cua (5th from left, standing) stands to witness the ceremony.DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.

RMC upsets Ateneo, 102-96, rules EDSA Anniversary Basketball Tournament

Rizal Memorial Colleges upset the Ateneo de Davao University, 102-96 to win the 2008 EDSA Anniversary Basketball Tournament, Saturday night, at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Hernan Dejito topscored for RMC with 32 points while Richard Madelo led the losing side with the same output.

PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez awarded the prizes to the winners.

Agro-Industrial Foundation College placed third while Holy Cross of Davao College landed fourth in the two-night tournament also supported by Davao City Sports Coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go and BAP-SBP XI Regional Director Regino "Boy" Cua.

RMC stuns Agro, plays Ateneo in EDSA Anniversary Basketball finals tonight

Rizal Memorial Colleges stunned Agro Industrial Foundation College, 99-98 to advance to the finals of the EDSA Anniversary Basketball Tournament tonight, 6:30 p.m., at the Davao City Recreation Center.

RMC will face Ateneo de Davao University, winner over Holy Cross of Davao College, in the other knockout game last night.

Mojer Sansangan scored the winning basket, 99-98 with 1.64 seconds left in the final quarter.

PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez will arrive today to personally grace the championship game tonight.

After the championship game, the awarding ceremony will immediately follow to be assisted by Davao City Sports Coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go.

EDSA Anniversary Basketball Games on Saturday

EDSA Anniversary basketball games are scheduled Saturday afternoon starting at 5 p.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Featured teams are the Rizal Memorial Colleges Bulldogs, Agro-Industrial Foundation College Sailors, Holy Cross of Davao College Crusaders and the Ateneo de Davao University Blue Knights.

The event is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the Sports Development Division-City Mayor’s Office and the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas XI.

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez will be on hand to grace the event along with Davao City Sports Coordinator Christopher “Bong” Go and BAP-SBP Regional Director Regino “Boy” Cua.

M.Lhuillier vs. TNT on Thursday

Game Thursday (February 21) – New Cebu Coliseum

7:00 PM M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City vs. Talk ‘N Text

CEBU CITY – Southern Philippine’s top ball club the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Jewelers of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) will test the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals off the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in a goodwill game this Thursday (February 21) at the New Cebu Coliseum. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM.

The game is part of the celebrations of the 71^st year of the Cebu City Charter and is held in cooperation with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) through its president Manuel V. Pangilinan and Visayas area head Michel J. Lhuillier. Both gentlemen are also the owners of the competing teams.

The game marks the first time new Phone Pals coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes will call the shots in a public game since taking over from Frederick Pumaren. Coach Reyes will match wits against the multi-titled Coach Raul Alcoseba. Ironically, assisting Coach Alcoseba will be Coach Reyes’ brother Mike, adding twist to the interesting coaching battle.

M. Lhuillier is no pushover, as its roster is loaded with former PBA players in Bruce Dacia, Stephen Padilla, Danny Aying, Leo Bat-og, Dale Singson, Marlon Basco and Ronald Capati and rookie free agent Woodrow Enriquez. Completing the roster are rising stars Jayford Rodriguez, Enrico Llanto and Jerry Cavan.

Talk ‘N Text, coming off a disappointing PBA Philippine Cup performance were they got the early boot in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, will be lead by point guard Jimmy Alapag and shooters Renren Ritualo and Mark Cardona. Also on the roster of the Phone Pals is Egay Billones, who played for the MVBA’s Cebu Landmaster quintet in 2006.

The rest of the Phone Pals are Yousif Aljamal, Ali Peek, Miguel Noble, Felix Belano, Kalani Ferreria, Yancy de Ocampo, Don Allado, Harvey Carey and Anthony Washington.

The Jewelers hope to rise above their 1-1 win-loss slate against PBA teams. In August of 2006, the Jewelers shocked the Santa Lucia Realtors, 82-69, at the Cebu Coliseum. A month later, they lost to the San Miguel Beermen, 91-97, in a charity game organized by Dondon Hontiveros.(AES)

CMO, GSO win anew

The City Mayor’s Office cruised to its third win and the General Services Office tallied its second victory in the Davao Inter-Government Agency Basketball Tournament, Sunday night, at the Davao City Recreation Center.

CMO remained unbeaten after trouncing Pagcor, 101-82 with main gunner Christopher “Bong” Go leading the scoring department with 19 baskets.

The Mayors extended the lead in the third quarter and kept the momentum en route to victory.

GSO, on the other hand, disappointed the Sangguniang Panlungsod, 94-92.

Bong Aleman topscored for GSO with 20 points with Titoy Halili helping with 18 baskets.

GSO started on a high note but started to slow down in the fourth quarter and the SP dribblers began to slice the lead.

But the cagers of Atty.Marvin “Oying” Melodias held on to the slim lead to remain unbeaten in two starts.

Go ignites, Executives force Game 7

Intense game took place on Friday night as the Executives escaped from the brink of defeat and forced a Game 7 in the Executive-Legislative Basketball Tournament Season 14 at the Davao City Recreation Center.
So intense it was as Game 6 ended in double overtime and the Executives tied the series at 3-3, via a 119-118 victory, bouncing from the 105-112 setback in Game 5.
City Sports Coordinator Christopher “Bong” Go scored nine straight points including a clutch three-pointer in the second extra period that set the tone and crushed the fighting hearts of the Legislators.
The Legislators could have wrapped up the game and annexed the Season 14 crown but Go and the Executives fought as if there was no tomorrow.
The Legislators outscored the Executives in the second half with Aldrin Casado leading the scoring charge by canning in 13 of his 25 points but Go and Ariel Bonleon quickly responded to catch up with their rivals.
“I think I just lucky with my shots. But we expect the Legislators to fight back, very hard, in Game 7,” said Go.

The scores:
Executives (119)- B.Go 34, Bonleon 28, Alquizar 22, Gadiano 22, Labor 6, Escorido 4, Acojedo 2, Caminade 1, Abasolo 0, Mondigo 0.
Legislators (118)- Casado 25, Villaver 20, Plarisan 18, Araneta 16, Casan 14, Mahipus 9, Abellera 8, Bredol 4, Pacayra 2, Estomata 2, Acero 0, Pahamutang 0, Yamit 0, Apostol 0.

SPC joins Top 4, plays tough UM on Friday

Lynor Arcamo of Davao Doctor's College slips past Camille Dayanghirang (No.3) of San Pedro College in the 2008 PRISAA Davao City Meet, Sunday, at the UM Matina gym.SPC won, 63-52.


San Pedro College barged in to the Top 4 after beating Davao Doctor's College, 63-52 in the women's basketball event of the 2008 PRISAA Davao City Meet, Sunday, at the UM Matina gym.
SPC will meet tough University of Mindanao on Friday at 7 p.m. at the start of the semifinal round.
Rizal Memorial Colleges takes on Brokenshire College at 5 p.m. for the first game.
RMC, behind the 40 points effort of Caroline Pacana, beat SPC on Sunday morning, 71-68 while Brokenshire College
crushed Davao Doctor's College, 81-33.
The losers will play for the third and fourth spots on Saturday while the championship round is on Sunday.

UM too much for SPC, 127-39

The University of Mindanao Cardinals showed too much firepower in disposing San Pedro College, 127-39 in the Private Schools Athletic Association Davao City Women's Basketball Eliminations, held over the weekend, at the University of Mindanao Matina Campus.

Geraldine Villa powered the Cardinals with 24 points for their fourth win and SPC suffered its second loss in three games.

In the other games, the Rizal Memorial Colleges Lady Bulldogs ripped the Ateneo de Davao University Lady Blue Knights, 72-55 for their third victory and Ateneo absorbed its fourth loss.

The Cardinals was supposed to play with Lady Bulldogs on Sunday but won by default for their fifth victory and RMC's first setback.

The Lady Blue Knights tasted their first win by beating Davao Doctor's College, 73-44.

Games will resume on February 17 featuring the Lady Bulldogs against San Pedro College at 10 a.m. while Brokenshire College Leopards face Davao Doctor's College at 3:30 p.m.

Oying, Bong cagers see action

Atty.Oying Melodias and Christopher "Bong" Go will parade their squads in the Davao Inter-Government Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Melodias and the GSO squad collide with the Department of Public Works and Highways at 4:30 p.m. while Go and the CMO dribblers battle the City Treasurer's Office of Ojek Riola at 6 p.m.

The teams joined the tournament to prepare for the 71st Araw ng Dabaw Sportsfest.

UM Cardinals win over Brokenshire College Leopards

The Leopards and Cardinals in action.

Head coach Chrysanthemum Como Sarabia (back of camera) gives final instructions to the University of Mindanao Cardinals during the PRISAA Davao City Basketball Eliminations. The Cardinals won over Brokenshire College in this game.

Barecom, SDD clinic in Toril

The Basketball Referees Commission (Barecom) of the BAP-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas
and the Davao City Sports Development Division jointly conducted a three-day basketball
seminar in Barangay Dumoy, Toril held over the weekend.

Veteran referee and lawyer Francis Calatrava, Barecom Provincial Commissioner, led in the
conduct of the seminar with the assistance of Bert Malinao of the Sports Development
Division.

The basics of officiating, coaching and handling the game were among the topics discussed
and the coaches took part also in the drills.

City Sports Coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go approved the holding of the clinic to update
local coaches of the developments of the No.1 sport in Davao.

"This is one way of helping our coaches get the necessary information for them to become
better coaches. And we would like to thank the BAP-SBP and the participants for making the
event successful," said Go, who is also the Executive Assistant of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Davao: A Basketballer’s Paradise

Davao: A Basketballer’s Paradise
By Giles Creelman

For many, basketball is the ultimate pastime. The young child in the street only needs a bouncing ball and some semblance of a basket to shoot at, the teenagers run themselves ragged as day turns to night and the young professional sees it as a way to keep up with old friends once a week while staying in shape.

But for the ballers of Davao it is so much more. I travelled to Davao City last week with Australia’s Sports Ambassadors – a group dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to Filipino crowds that gather to see local basketball teams play against Australian 6-foot-something’s who throw down the occasional slam dunk but lack the footspeed to keep up with the frenetic pace of the Filipino game. What I experienced in Davao was so intense and of such a high standard that opposing teams traveling to this city should be pre-warned to ‘bring their A-game’ to the cradle of Filipino basketball. The passing is as good as anywhere in South East Asia and no one shoots the high-arcing 3-pointer like the ballers of Davao.

Our team travelled through Manila and down to Bukidnon, Mindanao, playing games in Bukidnon area to crowds of up to 2,000 as well as helping to build a children’s orphanage and visiting local prisons to minister to inmates. With an unbeaten 16-game winning streak, we drove into Davao City for our last two days of the tour having enjoyed the incredible journey so far. Our first stop was Brokenshire College, with the Head of the College offering to be our “waterboy” for the evening! He obviously knew how much his team would make us sweat. We were lucky to come away with a win that evening in front of a vocal crowd.

The next morning had us asking the question – who will turn out to see an 8:30am game between the Barangay 32-D Policeman’s Selection and the Sports Ambassadors team? Half of Davao it seemed, as pedi-cabs and jeepneys pulled up at the court well before tip-off to join the children from the local estate who had turned out to see our team narrowly win an excellent match of street basketball. School children stopped to watch, students from a Beauty Therapy Academy in downtown Davao bussed down to watch the match and support Davao basketball.
After an interview with Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) at the Tower Inn Hotel, it was straight to MATTS College for our second game of the day. The peaceful surroundings of the College masked a varsity team full of an intensity we had not seen anywhere else on the courts of this country. Their team did not possess a player over 6-foot and in any other town the game would have been over by quarter-time.
But not in Davao.

Spurred on by the most vocal crowd I have ever heard, the MATTS team never showed signs of giving up – even when staring down the barrel of a 12-point deficit at three quarter time. The fourth quarter was pure Filipino heart – fearless driving, amazing passing and impeccable shooting. The frenzied crowd got behind every shot and defensive effort the MATTS team made and, with 6.6 seconds left to play in the game, this college team had tied the game at 80-80 with an improbable 3-pointer from a few feet inside the half-way line. Even our last ditch effort to win the game with an inside drive was swamped by relentless defenders. We knew we had our met our match and our winning streak was over. These Davao ballers had never seen losing as an option in this contest and they had created a result for themselves through sheer talent and willpower.

We will ever forget that game, or the quality of the players we saw in Davao. For many, basketball is a pastime. For the players in Davao, it is something much more sacred than that. And that is why we now see Davao as a basketballer’s paradise.

Holiday 3-on-3 is open

The Holiday Gym and Spa 3-on-3 Basketball League is an open competition, said Richy Melu of the organizing Holiday Gym and Spa.

On Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn, Melu said that even professional players who are inactive for two years can join.

Age divisions are 16 to 21, 22 to 30 and 31 above.

HGS' Chief Operating Officer Ivy Fernandez encouraged participants to submit early because they will only target 10 teams per bracket.

For more information, contact (082) 222-3041 or 222-4207.