THIS year's P1.8 million 80th Araw ng Dabaw Sports Festival will stage 32 events in different venues in Davao City.
Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge Michael Aportadera bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at NCCC Mall Food Cove Function Hall on Thursday, March 2.
Aportadera said one of the highlights of the festival will be the game between Alab Pilipinas and Hong Kong Lions for the Asean Basketball League.
The game will be staged at the University of the Southeastern Philippines (USeP) gymnasium on March 19.
For the Araw ng Dabaw Basketball Commerical Tournament, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers will also arrive in Davao to defend its title against homegrown team Montaña Pawnshop.
Other teams to join the tournament are Team Pacman, University of the Philippines (UP), National University (NU) and Ateneo de Manila University. The event is slated on March 23 to 26 at the Davao City Recreation Center.
He also said that the medalists of the recent Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships and the Bimp-Eaga Games will be awarded in the Athletes' and Coaches Recognition on March 17 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.
"The athletes will be awarded with personalized medals and cash prize incentives," Aportadera said, citing that City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, herself, will award the athletes.