Davao football plays for flood victims in DFAid II

There is a reason to go back to the field on Christmas eve.

Football players will play a weekend more on Saturday, this time to raise funds for the flood victims of the devastating Sendong which recently hit Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City and claimed some 1,000 lives.

Dubbed DFAid II, the fun games will be staged at the Davao Crocodile Park football complex with four football fields playing simultaneous games. It will be the second DFAid football-for-a-cause after the first one last July 7 to help raise donations for the flood victims of Matina.

DFAid II is organized by the Davao Football Community and Bravetower Events Promotions in cooperation with Davao Football Association (DFA), Davao Crocodile Park, Mindanao Travel Channel, and ABS-CBN.

“Yes, we are going back to the football field on Christmas eve to help the flood victims. We celebrated our Christmas party on the same day the floods hit Cagayan de Oro and we felt we need to go back and play, not to celebrate but to help,” said Boboy Arrieta of the DFC after declaring that there will be football games this Saturday.

The DFC has already declared no games on Saturday after the completion of the three-leg DFC tournament and its Christmas party last Sunday.

As of last count, more than 1,000 perished in what could be the most devastating calamity in Mindanao.

Neil Bravo of sports firm Bravetower said he spoke to Davao Crocodile Park Football Academy coach Christian Ea who was in Cagayan de Oro with the Metro TMS club in the ongoing Philippine Futsal League Mindanao and was told of the situation in the calamity-hit city. Bravo was told by Ea that there were even reports that there were some players and referees whose families also perished in the floods.

“We hope that our football community will respond the way they did during the first DFAid. Maybe even more this time because of the gravity of the situation and the spirit of the Christmas season,” Bravo said. He added that Davao Crocodile Park president Sonny Dizon expressed elation over the social responsibility shown by the sports community.

ABS-CBN Davao through DXAB head Andy Rara already responded to receive and deliver the donations to Cagayan de Oro.

DFAid II will be a fun games format with teams playing 7-a-side. All four fields will be used simultaneously. Registration will be P500 per team with all proceeds going to the flood donations. Players and even non-players are encouraged to bring foodstuff, clothing, and bottled water which are the immediate need of the flood victims.

DFAid I was among the first sports-driven project to help raise relief goods and donations to flood victims during the June 25 flashfloods in Davao.

Metro TMS wins Ritz Hotel Futsal tourney

Multi-titled Metro TMS rampaged its way to another title conquest taking home champion’s trophy in the 1^st Ritz Hotel Futsal tournament at the Garden Oases Gym.

Playing the tournament with most of its reserve, Metro TMS still found itself on top of the eliminations with 3 wins and 2 draws before unleashing its might in the semifinals where they gave up only a solitary goal. Metro TMS converted a tournament-high 25 goals in the eliminations while giving up only 9 to the opposition.

In the semis, they disposed of an ambitious Central United side 3-0 with veterans Christian Ea, Geroge Valenzona and Eric Salumbides at the firing end. The same troika also plotted the demolition job that put away any doubts of their title conquest, executing their gameplan to perfection in a 4-1 win in the finals against newcomer CF Garelli.

CF Garelli, powered by Don Bosco alums led by Gab Dollente, Nino Segovia, Nash Mansukhani, Francis Bendor, Jowilson Tope and Vincent Baquillos, advanced to the finals after scoring a major upset against eliminations second placer Intangibles FC (3-0-2), 3-2. Garelli took the last bus to the semis with a 2-1-2 win-draw-loss card in a tie with Central United (2-1-2). The Lupon-based Intangibles took third place via a shootout win over Central United.

Ritz Hotel general manager Karl Sims, himself a football player back in Spain, spent the day watching the tournament and even doing the table official’s chores.

“It was fun to watch football here at Garden Oases. This is only the first time, we hope to do another one in January,” Sims said.

Jommel Banez, marketing consultant of The Ritz Hotel, and Futsaleros de Davao president Eric Sedighpour, awarded the trophies during the awarding rites at the poolside Kiwi Bar.

The tournament is organized by Bravetower Events Promotions in partnership with Mindanao Travel Channel, Kiwi Bar and the Party Animal.

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.