Record turnout inWNCAA/MNCAA Pep Rally Run

More than 2,000 runners from 26 various schools in the region came to cheer and run for their respective schools marking the birth of the WNCAA/MNCAA Mindanao at the break of dawn on Sunday at the Abreeza Mall grounds.

The 3-kilometer non-competition run organized by Bravetower Events Promotions for the newly-minted Women’s/Men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Mindanao Chapter served as the opening highlight of the inaugural season of the new sports association which has thus far some 30 members schools all over Mindanao.

Atty. Ma. Fe Alano, representing Commissioner Akiko Thomson-Guevarra of Philippine Sports Commission, WNCAA/MNCAA Mindanao director Arlene De Vera, Brokenshire College President Leopoldo Naïve and a host of school representatives led the break-of-dawn run which saw delegations flagged off per school.

AMA Computer College was first to be flagged off while Cor Jesu College of Digos City was the last batch. The runners, mostly NSTP, PE and varsity students, brought their school banners and wore their school colors.

Brokenshire College came in with the biggest delegation in the event dubbed as WNCAA/MNCAA Mindanao Pep Rally Run “Run to express your School Spirit.” Also coming gin with huge contingents are University of Southeastern Philippines, University of Mindanao, San Pedro College and Holy Cross of Davao College.

Jierty Calderon, a varsity athletics student of Brokenshire College, was first to finish the run which was supported by Smart Telecommunications, Abreeza Mall, City Government of Davao, Philippine Sports Commission, Mindanao Travel Channel, Mindanao Daily Mirror, Gold Star Daily, 102.7 FM One Radio, Mindanao Tribune, and Mindanao Times.

Holy Trinity, HCDC, Sta. Ana HS win WNCAA cheer titles

General Santos City bet Holy Trinity College proved itself to be a cut above the rest while Holy Cross of Davao College and Sta. Ana High National School were just as stunning as the three schools bagged titles in the WNCAA/MNCAA-SMART Mindanao Cheerleading Competition on Sunday at the jampacked Abreeza Mall.

The visiting HTC Wildcats Pep Squad was unopposed in the collegiate cheerleading category of this competition highlighting the birth of the newest school-based sports association in Mindanao. Harry Mangohig’s squad electrified the mammoth crowd with stunning routines capped by a bevy of tosses and lifts.

The Wildcats served just about everything on the cheerleading menu giving everyone a glimpse of what could be next year’s edition which by then will be purely cheerleading according to WNCAA/MNCAA Mindanao director Arlene De Vera.

“They (HTC) were simply amazing,” said Delbert James Balista, Regional Trade and Marketing Officer of SMART Telecommunications, the event’s co-presentor.

HTC Receved P7,000 and a plaque for their victory plus the chance to compete in the WNCAA Finals on February in Manila.

The blue battalion of HCDC Crusaders topped the collegiate cheerdance category besting campus neighbor San Pedro College Angels and Davao Doctors College Red Lions which placed second and third, respectively. Rounding up the collegiate level are USEP-Mintal (4^th), MATS (5^th), USEP-Obrero (6^th) and AMA Computer College (7^th).

In the high school division, multi-titled Sta. Ana National high School bucked a two-point deduction for exceeding the time limit but still won by the skin of their teeth against GenSan’s HTC Junior Wildcats. Brokenshire College wound up third while UIC finished fourth.

Winners in the cheerdance category received P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000 and a plaque for the top three placers.

Earlier, the WNCAA/MNCAA was formally installed as a new chapter of the 42-year old association with De Vera officially receiving the association’s banner witnessed by guest of honor Atty. Ma. Fe Alano, executive assistant of PSC Commissioner Akiko Gillian Thomson-Guevarra who begged off at the last minute to attend to her ailing mother, and Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, who represented Mayor Sara Duterte.

The event, organized by Bravetower Events Promotions, is supported by Abreeza Mall, City Government of Davao and the Philippine Sports Commission with event partners Enervon Multivitamins and I-on Energy Drink as official energy providers, and media partners Mindanao Travel Channel, Mindanao Daily Mirror, Gold Star Daily, Mindanao Times, Mindanao Tribune, and 102.7 FM One Radio. The Party Animal provided the musical scoring of the competitions.

James, Phil Younghusband at NCCC Mall Nov. 9

The Philippines Azkals' Phil Younghusband and his brother James will be in Davao on Wednesday for the Clear For Men Football Clinic at the NCCC Mall.

The popular Azkals players, who are also the image models for the popular shampoo brand, will be conducting a football clinic at the NCCC Mall Activity Area at 12:30 noon. Interested participants may avail of the rare chance to have lessons from the Younghusbands by simply showing a proof of purchase of Clear products bought at NCCC Mall worth P150.

The clinic is sponsored by Unilever Philippines, makers of Clear for Men.

Participants will also get the chance to win autographed balls and other souvenir items plus the opportunity to have their photos taken with two of the most popular sports figures in the country today. Phil and James are gearing up for a much-awaited exhibition match against LA Galaxy starring the world-famous David Beckham in December at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. (Bravetower)

Solido back with a vengeance, takes Croc League 2nd leg

Solido FC came back with a vengeful night and all of a sudden found themselves perched on top of the standings in the 2011 Davao Crocodile Park Croctoberfest Night Football League.

Solido’s youthful three-headed offensive line of Jed Diamante, Javi Romero-Salas and Miko Arrieta proved to be the difference as the Orangemen took home the second leg title at the expense of surprise finalist Belisario FC 2-0 at the DCP Field.

Romero-Salas opened up the scoring in the first half with a blast from 10 yards after a nifty pass from fellow Little Azkal Diamante. In the second, Romero-Salas returned the favour and Diamante booted home another marker for the final score line.

Everyone was expecting another Metro TMS-Solido finale after the bitter rivals which disputed the title in the first leg last week once again topped their respective groups. First leg champion Metro TMS easily topped Group A with wins against a loss while Solido finished on top of Group B with 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. FC Soriente (4-1-1) and Belisario (3-1-2) completed the semis cast.

But in a surprise twist, Metro TMS gave up two successive goals late in the match to bow down to Belisario. Solido meantime beat Soriente to advance to their second straight finals appearance.

“Hard work paid off for us. I hope we can sustain our momentum for the third and final leg,” said Buboy Arrieta, Solido FC team captain.

Thus, after two legs Solido overtook Metro TMS on top of the standings with 85 points in this football trilogy organized by the Davao Crocodile Park and Bravetower Events Promotions. Metro TMS dropped to second overall with 75. Belisario climbed to third overall with 35 followed by Black Knights-KMPPC with 35, Phl Rabies and Soriente (30).

Club 34, Kingfisher, UIC, DMMA, UM CAE, Alia Orange, and Central United are tied with 20 points while Fil-Chi has 10.

A total of 14 squads are entered in the tournament sanctioned by the Davao Football Association and supported by the Davao Football Community. The final leg will be on Friday night with the overall champion receiving the rare Crocodile Cup made up of real crocodile head.

Metro TMS wins Croctoberfest Night Football 1st Leg

Metro TMS captured the first leg title of the 2011 Davao Crocodile Park Croctoberfest Night Football League on Sunday beating archrival Solido FC 1-0 at the DCP Field.

Veteran Eric Salumbides connected on a swerving floater from the right wing midway into the first half that sailed beyond reach of Solido’s keeper Rad Cambronero whose last second dive was a heartbeat short.

That goal turned out to be the one that mattered for Metro TMS which will earn 50 points for winning the opening leg of this football trilogy organized by the Davao Crocodile Park and Bravetower Events Promotions. Solido will earn 35 points for the runner-up honors.

The two teams, known in the local football circle as bitter rivals in the second division, actually opened the tournament with an early confrontation in Group B. They battled to a 1-all draw which set up their long road to the finals.

“It was a tough game. It’s always hard playing against Solido,” said Metro TMS owner Eric Sedighpour.

His counterpart from Solido, Buboy Arrieta, said they could have scored the first goal but referee Melchor Anzures nullified a possible conversion early in the game.

It turned up a lot more heated from there as the match turned more physical. Solido’s three-pronged attack centered around their young recruits—Japoy Diamante, Javi Romero-Salas and Miko Arrieta—got all banged up by Metro’s harrowing defense. To their credit, Diamante and Romero-Salas, both mainstays of the country’s Little Azkals squad, had at least four decent attempts in the second half.

Black Knights finished 3^rd with a shootout win over Philippine Rabies-Med Juris, 6-5.

A total of 14 squads were entered in the tournament sanctioned by the Davao Football Association and supported by the Davao Football Community. The next leg will be on Friday night with the women’s division set to start along with the High School Boys Division. Interested teams may contact Christian Ea 09237280441.

The leg winners will receive a medium-sized crocodile head cup with the team emerging with the highest points winning the specially crafted full-sized crocodile head cup.

Malditas from Davao

MALDITAS TWINS FROM DAVAO. Two players from Davao have been included in the Womens' national team called Malditas. Twin sisters Marie and Marice Magdolot, who graduated from Philippine Womens' College of Davao and now a football scholar of US, are suiting up for the women's national squad in the Asean Football Federation Womens' Championship to be held in Laos this October.

Solido-Fil Chi, AA FC win DFA openers

The father-son tandem of Buboy and Mikoh Arrieta combined for three markers to power Solido-Fil Chi to a devastating 7-2 victory over FC Sonriente as the DFA Second Divvision Football League formally kicked off over the weekend at the Tionko Field.

The pony-tailed Buboy opened up the scoring for Solido-Fil Chi as he found the net in the 14^th minute. The marker proved to be the tall order a son had to outdo in the process but son Mikoh was up to the challenge bettering the marksmanship of his father with goals in the 20^th and 34^th in between one scored by Jay Miguel in the 27th.

Solido’s other markers came from Jepony Agustin in the 49^th, Gary Ocampo in the 51^st, and Mark Descallar (54^th). FC Sonriente could only respond with a couple of goals courtesy of Vincent Baquillos (19^th) and Ruben Vargas (60^th).

In another opening day match of this event organized by the Davao Football Association (DFA), AA FC also went on a headstart with a 2-1 win over Black Knights. Former national team mainstay Melchor Anzures rammed home the first goal in the 53^rd and teammate Zidoy Ibarra added another eight minutes later for a 2-0 cushion. Black Knights’ lone goal came via penalty in the 73^rd.

In other matches, Metro TMS drew its first match with PNP 3-3, and Club 34B also drew with Belisario Futbol 3-3. George Valenzona booted in a pair of markers in the 14^th and 85^th and Christian Ea added one in the 65^th but their efforts were matched eually by Ian Pongo (13, 80) and Monaster Arimaw (36). (NJB with a report from Julio Orcasitasma)