WITH a one-year preparation, the 11th Davao Baseball Cup, which was postponed from October this year to February next year, is expected to be the biggest edition of the tournament for elementary and high school teams.
Datu Uchida Development Foundation, Inc. (DUDFI) organizing chairperson Ines Mallari said, "This is the biggest in terms of number of teams, as we are expecting 40 teams, and biggest in budget. The past stagings drew a maximum of 25 teams."
She thanked Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Division chief Maria Ines C. Asuncion for her support in drawing more public schools to participate in the event co-organized by Davao City Baseball Association under its president Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia, Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJKIS) and DUDFI whose founder Datu Bago awardee Tatsuo Uchida passed away in Japan last May 7.
"The tournament will be a sort of a memorial cup for the man behind this baseball program," Mallari said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the NCCC Mall B3 Lanes Thursday, September 9.
Sarabia, for his part, said tournament sponsor Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club had been helpful in promoting baseball in the city. The baseball equipment the club has been donating to participating teams the past years helped the teams to improve.
The Davao Kadayawan Lions Club also committed to support the tournament.
The Lt. C. Villafuerte Sr. Elementary School will host the Davao Baseball Cup for the second time. It also was the venue for the inaugural meet.
Organizers will provide lunch and dinner, transportation subsidy, free coaches' orientation and clinic and baseball equipment. (MLSA)