THE journey to the world championships begins Wednesday, April 5, especially for the Philippines when the 2017 Philippine Open Tchoukball Invitational opens at the City Sports Club in Ayala Business Park, Cebu City.
Scheduled April 5-7, the event will give top Filipino side the opportunity to represent the country in the World University Tchoukball Championship in Malaysia in July; World Beach Tchoukball Championship in Taiwan and World Youth Beach Tchoukball Championship in Bali, Indonesia both in August; and the Southeast Asian Championship in Thailand in October.
Last year, Bacolod City-based girls settled for second runner-up in the 4th Asia Pacific Youth Tchoukball Championship held in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
They just fell short against the stronger Singapore side in the semis, 31-22 but defeated China, 30-28 to rule the battle for third. Host-Taiwan dropped Singapore in the finals, 49-25 to win the title.
Back in 2015, the Christian Academy of Bacolod U18 squad also represented the Philippines in the 4th World Youth Tchoukball Championship on August 13-16 at Pasir Ris Sports Centre in Singapore.
At present, host-Cebu teams are also looking forward to snatch spots in the international tchoukball arenas as they field Cebu Butanding and Bunal Cebu.
Cebu Butanding will banner Jon Mark and Jon Stephen Santamaria, Anrod and Kurt Russell Arreza, Abraham Ace and Asher James Quilaneta, Mark Learnedhand Garcia, Mark Adrian Acuna, Lander Florendo, Hector Dale Villamor, Patrick Palamine Jr., and Christian Nino Legario for the men’s division.
Jayme Less Moriles, Shennen Conde, Charisse Moreno, Gamalielle Mae Guitguten, Trixie Mae Baclaan, Henrelyn Villamor, Almyrah Acuna, Jhevy May Rodriguez, and Kyra Christine Lim will star for the distaff side.
Bubal Cebu men’s team include Jel Jlash Rodriguez, Thomas Alan Garcia, Ethan Antoine Estabas, Elde Van Jurado, Joshua Jay Taborada, John Daniel Atega, Jeiel Sande, Wayne Richmond Rivera, Albert Bernard Barlas, Jairo Llamera, and Brent Landanganon while Maria Nina Sing, Angela Basco, Rinson Joy Taborada, Sandra Austine Macoy, Denise Ann Nadal, Eunice Besina and Love Yap.
