The 16th Davao Baseball Cup kicks off on February 21, 2025, at Lt. C. Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School (LCVES) in Calinan, Davao City, with a record 23 teams from across Mindanao.
Ines P. Mallari, president of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJKIS) and Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD), highlighted the event’s progress in an exclusive interview with VoxPop Davao on Thursday, February 20.
"At first, we had only a few teams, starting with six. Now, we have 23 strong teams, including those from as far as Agusan del Sur," Mallari said in an exclusive interview with VoxPop Davao on February 20.
This year, 10 teams from neighboring cities and provinces have joined, including the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2024 baseball champions, who are making their tournament debut. Mallari credited this growth to support from the Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao City and the Davao Region.
Strengthening ties
Tetsuji Nakajima, president of the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club (TKLC), underscored the strong ties between Japan and the Philippines, which continue even after wartime history. TKLC has supported Davao City’s grassroots baseball program through the efforts of the late Datu Bago awardee Tatsuo Uchida, founder of the Datu Uchida Development Foundation, Inc. (DUDFI).
"It's a give-and-take relationship," Nakajima said in Nihongo, as translated by Mallari.
We have Lions Club counterparts in the Philippines, and we want to help in any way we can. If Japan ever needs assistance, the Philippines will also support us.
Tetsuji Nakajima, TKLC president
Growing support
DUDFI sports director Yusuke Uchida expressed gratitude for the increasing support behind the Davao Baseball Cup.
He acknowledged the financial challenges of organizing the annual event, as they subsidize transportation, meals, equipment for participating teams, and cash prizes. However, seeing more children embrace baseball—Japan’s primary sport—makes it all worthwhile.
We will do our best to sustain this league and continue developing young players' skills,
Yusuke Uchida, DUDFI sports director
Uchida added. Plans include sending selected Davao Baseball Cup players to Japan for a baseball tour.
Competing teams
Twelve teams will compete for the elementary division championship, including Talomo Central ES, LCVES, Don Juan Dela Cruz Central ES, San Miguel Integrated School, F. Bustamante Central ES, Buhisan ES, Communal ES, New Tawas ES, Calinan Central ES, and Baguio Central ES from Davao City. They will be joined by Andili ES from Mawab, Davao de Oro, and Maniki Central ES from Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
In the high school division, contenders include Emilio Ramos NHS, Crossing Bayabas NHS, Buhisan NHS, Calinan NHS, PNJKIS, and Baguio National School of Arts and Trade from Davao City. Also competing are Kapalong NHS (Kapalong), Sto. Niño NHS (Talaingod), A.O. Floirendo NHS (Panabo, Davao del Norte), Sta. Maria NHS (Trento, Agusan del Sur), and Andili NHS (Mawab, Davao de Oro). MLSA
