HOST Davao City secondary boys' baseball team absorbed its first setback Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2018 pre-opening games held at the Calinan National High School grounds Friday.
The Eric Gauran-coached Davao City Durians bowed to Davao del Norte, 3-4, to open its bid in the regional meet on a sour note.
Tagum City and Davao Oriental also eked out wins over their respective rivals. Tagum routed Davao Occidental, 16-2, while Davao Oriental crushed Panabo City, 12-2.
Over at the University of Mindanao (UM) field in Matina, defending champion Ddavao City Durians drew a bye in secondary girls' softball competition.
Davao City secondary girls softball coach Willie Bayocboc, in a phone interview with SuperVoxPop Friday, said they are confident to defend the title.
"Gusto sa mga kalaban na matagak mi pero kumpyansa mi nga makuha gihapon ang gold kay sa atoa pa jud gidula (Others want us eliminated but we are confident to win the gold again since this is played in our home turf)," Bayocboc said, adding that star pitcher Irene Lumanas of Crossing Bayabas National High School (CBNHS) will be playing in her last Davraa Meet as she is set to graduate this year.
Bayocboc's team will next clash against Compostela Valley on Tuesday.
Davao Occidental, meanwhile, thrashed Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), 14-1, while Compostela Valley (Comval) edged Davao del Norte, 3-2.
Mati City also escaped past Digos City, 5-4, while Davao Oriental blanked Panabo City, 7-0.
Baseball and softball games were still ongoing as of yesterday presstime.
The swimming competition, which will be held at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City, will yet start on Tuesday, February 20, but action in medal-rich athletics as well as in most sports will begin on Monday in different venues here.
UM track oval will host the athletics competition.
The rest of the events and venues: UM Matina Gym - junior and senior sepak takraw, secondary girls basketball; UM Matina field - elementary and secondary girls softball; Davao Archery Club - archery; Gaisano Mall Food Hall Toril - arnis; Smash N' Drop - badminton;
Calinan National High School - elementary and secondary baseball; Rizal Memorial Colleges Gym - elementary boys basketball, secondary boys and girls 3X3; University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gym - secondary boys basketball; Davao City National High School - billiards, volleyball; Almendras Gym - boxing; Gaisano Mall Event Center Toril - chess; Tionko field - football; Mintal Gym - futsal; University of the Immaculate Conception - gymnastics;
San Pedro College - table tennis; SM City Davao Annex - taekwondo; Ecoland Phase 2, 4 tennis courts - elementary tennis; GSIS Lawn Tennis Club -secondary tennis; John Paul II College of Davao - wrestling; and Gaisano Mall Toril activity area - wushu.
