Davao City to host football, volleyball tournaments for this year’s reg’l meet

By Moses P. Billacura

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 8 (PNA) -– Davao City will host football and volleyball events in both elementary and secondary divisions of the 2009 Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet that will kick off on February 13.

The municipality of Bansalan in Davao del Sur won the hosting rights of this year's DAVRAA Meet, but it was later decided by the Board to stage the events in different venues to cut down operation costs and avoid putting burden to just one city or district.

"It's very expensive for one city to host the DAVRAA Meet because it will have to shoulder a lot of expenses like the food of all technical officials, among other necessities," Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) athletic manager Jimmy Cerrojales said.

He added the traveling expenses of delegates to every venue will also cost them huge amount.

Department of Education (DepEd) regional director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy signed the memorandum order to stage both events in Davao was contained in a memorandum issued to school division superintendents and principals last December 16.

Cerrojales said the football event will be held at the Tionko grounds, while volleyball will be staged at the Davao City National High School.

He said they initially planned to hold the volleyball competitions at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Grade School but they couldn't afford the rent of P250 per game.

"We decided to have the volleyball games at DCNHS instead. We will use four courts to finish the tournament within three days," Cerrojales said.

He said DCAA had earmarked over P4 million for its preparation and participation to the regional meet where the city is set to field a total of 600 athletes, coaches, chaperons and officials.

Meanwhile, Estigoy's memorandum order stated that Digos City will host table tennis and Davao del Sur will host the lawn tennis competitions at the Bansalan Central Elementary School (CES) and Bansalan Tennis Court on February 20-22.

On February 27 to March 1, the swimming and athletics events will be held at the Mati Centennial Sports Complex, while sepak takraw will be played in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

The boxing and basketball events will be in Panabo City on March 6-8.

The rest of the DAVRAA Meet schedules are as follows: (February 21-22) -- badminton at Digos City Gym and archery at Bansalan CES; (February 28-March 1) - sipa in Comval; (March 7-8) - chess in Panabo, arnis, taekwondo, gymnastics, karatedo in Tagum; and (March 14-15) - baseball and softball in Carmen. (PNA)