Consul invites Davao councilors to witness Australian sporting event

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/7 Jan) -- The Philippine consul general in Australia’s Northern Territory today invited city councilors to visit Darwin during the Arafura Games and meet with their counterparts for possible future agreements, including sporting linkages.

In a press conference at a local restaurant here, consul general John Rivas personally invited councilors Susabel Reta, Rachel Zozobrado and Peter Laviña, who represented Vice Mayor Sara Duterte, to join the Davao delegation to the international games slated May 9-17 in Darwin, capital of Northern Territory.

“They can watch the games there and at the same time meet with [their counterparts] for possible linkages in education, trade and sporting events,” said Rivas.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez recognized the significance of a sports-related friendship agreement between Darwin and this city in the past.

“There was already a friendship agreement before but it became dormant due to lack of follow up,” he said. Rivas’s invitation could be a way to renew ties, said Ramirez, who arranged Rivas’s visit to this city.

The councilors verbally agreed to revive the agreement, saying “this new effort through sports could help us a lot”.

“Not only in the in field of sports but also in trade, education and cultural exchange,” said Laviña, who is also the president of the Davao City Sports Council, Inc. (DCSCI).

Laviña sees a possible sister-city agreement in the future with Darwin, which has grown from a pioneer outpost and small port into one of Australia's most modern and multicultural cities. Its two largest economic sectors are mining and tourism.

Rivas said all sports facilities in Darwin are already in place for the Arafura Games, touted as a leading international sporting competition of the emerging champions of the Asia.

He said that renovations to some of the venues are being made but all facilities are ready. He added that 4,000 athletes, coaches and officials are expected to go to Darwin for the games.

There are 27 sport disciplines lined up in the event held every two years since 1991.

For Davao City, Ramirez advised it should send the best athletes since it needs a lot of money to go to Australia and compete in the Arafura Games.

“We have good athletes here but the problem is money. That's why for the City of Davao, it should send the best athletes who has chances to win,” said Ramirez, a former city sports coordinator before going to the PSC.

Davao City started sending athletes to the games in 1997. It was the PSC chief who headed the delegation.

The Arafura Games will be on the top agenda when the DCSCI, the sports body composed of regional heads of the National Sports Associations, holds its monthly meeting on January 13. (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)

Ex-PSC chief to enter politics

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 January) -- Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair William “Butch” Ramirez last week declared his intention to enter politics and said it “depends on Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as to what position”.

“Rody (Duterte) is the barometer. It depends to the mayor as to what position (I will aspire for),“ Ramirez said three days after President Arroyo accepted his resignation as chair of the national sports agency

In a press conference Saturday, Ramirez, 58, who served for ten years in the PSC, said he will not run without the blessing of Duterte, his former boss

The former Ateneo de Davao University professor said “religious groups and some individuals” are pushing him to run for the congressional seat in the city's first district occupied by House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Nograles ran for mayor but lost to Duterte in the 1990s.

Like Duterte, Nograles is also serving his last term.

Duterte appointed Ramirez as city sports coordinator several years back. A few days following his appointment, the mayor sent him to Australia as the city's head of delegation to the 2001 Arafura Games in Darwin that enabled Ramirez to see the “world of sports.”

Ramirez said the mayor has a well-established political machinery “and more to that, the mayor has a good heart for the poor, he is a good politician and a good lawyer”.

“I don't have any association with other politicians. It's only with the mayor, that's why my entry to politics lies in him. It's up to him what position (I will aspire for).

Ramirez submitted his resignation following the country's dismal performance in the Beijing Olympics last August.

Ramirez had been very vocal about his intention to help the sports program of Davao City the moment he would leave PSC where he served as regional representative in 1998 before he was appointed as commissioner in 2000 and its chair in 2005. (Rico Biliran/MindaNews)

On Ramirez' resignation: PSC's loss is Davao City's gain

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/22 Jan) -- It is the city government of Davao that would "gain much" from the departure of William "Butch" Ramirez at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for he can now focus his energy on Davao sports, local sports leaders said.

"It's PSC's loss and the bright side would be, its Davao City's gain," said Moses Billacura, officer-in-charge of the City Sports Development Division (CSDD).

Joseph Encabo, the PSC chief's senior executive assistant, confirmed reports that Malacañang had accepted the resignation of Ramirez as chairman of the PSC, putting an end to the former Ateneo de Davao University professor's 10-year stint at the national sports agency, 3 of which as its head.

Ramirez submitted his resignation following the country's dismal performance in the Beijing Olympics last August.

Long before his resignation was accepted, Ramirez had been very vocal about his intention to help the sports program of Davao City the moment he would depart from the PSC where he served as regional representative in 1998 before he was appointed as commissioner in 2000 and its chairman in 2005.

Billacura said Ramirez,58, one of the longest serving PSC officials, would help the Duterte administration in the area of sports.

"He (Ramirez) has been wishing to come home and has expressed his desire to help sports in Davao City," said Billacura, who was one of the staff of Ramirez when he was the city sports chief of Duterte several years back.

With the homecoming of Ramirez, expect more changes at the CSDD as the man who was largely credited when the Philippines won the overall Southeast Asian Games in 2005 would bring his exceptional sports leadership in this city, Billacura said.

"We have a lot of work to do," he added. (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)

Abap to set tup training center in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/8 Jan) -- The new leadership of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is planning to set up a regional training center in Mindanao, and president Ricky Vargas wants to put it up in this city.

"We prefer to set it up in Davao City and make this city as a center for Mindanao," Vargas told sports journalists in a press briefing following a consultative meeting with the boxing stakeholders in the region.

But Vargas clarified that they would not intervene on the decision of the stakeholders as to where they want to put up the training center.

" If they have other place in mind, it would be up to them," added Vargas, who was accompanied by ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio.

With regards to where to set up the training center, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez said boxing stakeholders across the island will discuss it during the ABAP national congress in Bacolod City on January 14-17.

Ramirez, who is a member of the board of directors of ABAP in the Davao Region, said it is best that stakeholders all over Mindanao, who are expected to attend the national congress, be consulted on the issue.

Vargas, who also held a consultative meeting Wednesday in Baguio City, came here to seek support from the stakeholders in the region aimed at helping improve the programs of ABAP.

The ABAP chief sought the help of Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol, former Davao del Norte congressman Tony Boy Floreindo and Ramirez.

"Hopefully, with their assistance we can do better for the development of the sport of boxing," said Vargas.

Piñol said they have gone out their way in helping boxing in the country but the problem is with ABAP. "ABAP is very exclusive. They don’t want others to help them. They are not even helping local chapters, " Piñol said, referring to the previous ABAP leadership.

Having a good program and a bunch of potential boxers, Piñol pointed out, "we just need a little help".

For his part, Ramirez said that the set up of the coaching staff needs to be overhauled because some of them have been there for many years.

With the training center, according to the PSC chief, ABAP can get the best coaches and conduct coaches’ leadership seminars, among others.

"It would help us take a smooth quality development of boxing in the country," said Ramirez.

Vargas visited the boxing facilities at the back of the Davao City Recreation Center where more than 20 boxers have been training hard. His observation: "It’s not in good shape".

"But there are lots of potential young boxers, " he noted. (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)

Davao Del Norte maps out sports dev't plan

TAGUM CITY, Davao Del Norte (MindaNews / April 4) – The opening rites
of the first-ever Davao Del Norte Sports Summit on Thursday prepared the red
carpet for the provincial government's journey towards making the province as
the region's sports capital.



Addressing the opening rites of the two-day sports summit at the
Bulwagan ng Lalawigan here, Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario said he believed that the
summit and the "redevelopment" of the provincial sports complex "would make
the biggest banana exporting province as the region's sports hub".



"(Davao del Norte) is the region's sports capital in the making," said
Del Rosario. " The possibilities are boundless and this is where it all
begins," He added.



The summit was graced by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman
William "Butch" Ramirez.



Del Rosario said "this is the beginning of the comprehensive genuine
sports development program of the province".



Former Vice Governor Anthony Del Rosario, the governor's son and
currently the provincial sports chief, said that "with the active participation
of all the provincial sports stakeholders, the province will have a genuine
sports development program that focus on sport disciplines where local
athletes have good chances in excelling".



"With your active participation and through this sports summit we can
map out a genuine strategic plan for sports development," the younger Del
Rosario told the summit that was attended also by barangay captains,
chairpersons of the Sangguniang Kabataan chapters and private sports
groups.



"This is the kind of program that needs to be sustained. We really need
to
set direction for our sports development programs," said Danny
Sumalinog, a
sports summit participant from Island Garden City of Samal.



Ramirez said that the completion of its sports complex in 2010, the
province
"perhaps, could be the regional training center in the south".



"We will no longer go to Manila, we will just train here. This is the
better
place to live, away from pollution, and work for the future champions
of the
country," said Ramirez.



The Davao Del Norte sports complex project was also unveiled during the
summit.







Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao Del Norte unanimously
approved in special session on Wednesday the resolution authorizing the
provincial government to enter into a loan agreement with Land Bank of
the
Philippines.



"We have approved the authority to borrow P500 million, and the P250
million
of that will be used for the sports complex," Vice Governor Victorio
Suaybaguio, Jr., said.



The construction of the proposed P250-million sports complex will start
soon, according to the provincial engineers office.



The 15-hectare sports complex will rise in Barangay Mankilam across the
province's Government Center, where the old sports complex once stood
until
it was razed by fire in March 2003.



The complex would have a total of 49 spans of concrete bleachers, a
rehabilitated and upgraded Olympic-sized swimming pool, a modern oval
track
with rubberized track materials and synthetic foot soccer field.



"The swimming pool and track oval will have eight lanes," said
provincial
engineer Josie Jean Rabanoz.



The complex would also have a parking area that could accommodate more
than
300cars.  (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)

City gov't awards cash incentives to Davaoeño Thailand Seag medalists

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / April 4) – Twenty medallists in last year's
Southeast Asian Games in Thailand who hailed from here received cash
gifts from the city government "for bringing honor and pride to the city and
the country".



The medallists were top-billed by Olympic-bound divers Shiela Mae Perez
and Ryan Rexel Fabriga, who each received P25,000 each for their single
gold and silver medals respectively.



Acting Mayor Sara Z. Duterte awarded cash incentives to the Davaoeño
athletes on Wednesday in a brief awarding rite held at the Pag-asa Bar of the Marco
Polo Hotel.



Duterte handed over a total of P260,000 cash gifts with  gold medal winner took home P15, 000
while the silver and bronze medal medallist got P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.



Perez and Fabriga personally received their cash bonus from Duterte but
many of the other awardees were in Manila. Their parents received the awards
on their behalf.



Last December, the Davaoeño medalists also received cash incentives
from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.



"More than the cash gift, we congratulate them (the athletes) for
bringing honor and pride for the city and the country," Duterte said.



She encouraged the athletes "to continue to work hard for better
glory".



"We are very thankful for the cash bonus given by Vice Mayor Duterte,"
said Rodrigo Porala, father of Ruditha who was part of the 10-member women's
traditional boat race that won bronze medal in the 1,000-meter contest.



Luvelyn Maganda, who played a vital role in the gold medal finish of
the national softball squad, brought home P15,000. Cue artist Lee Van
Corteza and Mary Anne Basas got P10,000 apiece for winning silver in the men's
9-ball and women's 6-Red snooker, respectively.



Other awardees were marathoner Jho-Ann Banayag (silver), batters Edmer
Del Socorro and RuelBatuto (bsilver), golfer Jhonnel Ababa (silver),
traditional boar racer Amina Anuddi and Sanita Kasim (silver), diver Jaime Asok
(gold),
diver Zardo Domenios and Nino Carog (silver), tri-athlete George Vilog
(silver), sailor Richly Magsanay (silver), judoka Ruth Duga-Duga
(bronze)
and water polo team member-brothers Frazier and Norton Alamara and
Monsuito
Pelenio (silver).   (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)

Pinoy US-based coach to conduct seminar in Davao City

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/01 April) -- Three years ago, he left this city for the US to be with his family where he eventually continued his coaching career as assistant coach for a high school basketball team.
And now, with the world class basketball knowledge he learned in the US, Ronel Leuterio will be back to conduct a free seminar for Davao coaches on April 10 to 11 at Barangay 35-D gym.

The project, jointly organized by the basketball association and the city's sports development division under sports coordinator Christopher “Bong” Go, is open to all Davao coaches who are willing to know about the latest trends in coaching in the U.S.

The Chicago-based Leuterio has attended many seminars and conferences in his three years in the U.S. and will be coming to share his knowledge, including his newly-developed "Spread Offense".

The “Spread Offense” is a result of a three-year work of Leuterio who attended numerous seminars under U.S. college coaches.

“It is an offense that is out of the box, something unconventional. The positions are different or at least they are viewed in a different way,” he said in an email from Chicago.

He said basketball is usually thought of in terms of point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center.

“It is not 1, 2,3,4,5 like most teams do. Here you have two guards, two forwards, and a center. The guards and forwards are interchangeable, the center is the only position that is not,” he added.

Leuterio coached the Ateneo High School to several championships in local and national tournaments before he left for the US.

He is best remembered for mentoring the Ateneo HS team that won the Milo BEST national title in Cebu. He was also an assistant coach of the Davao Eagles in the Metropolitan Basketball Association, a short-lived play-for-pay league.

For more information about the seminar, contact the sports division at 2278074 and look for seminar coordinator Bert Malinao. (Rico Biliran/MindaNews)