Phl's top players to join Cebu City darts tourney

CEBU, Philippines - The cream of the crop in Philippine darts led by the top-ranked Ian Perez of Koronadal City will be coming over to the Queen City of the South to showcase their wares in the cash-rich 4th Cebu City Mayor's Cup-M. Lhuillier National Darts Open set from April 20 to 22 at the Yayoy's Grill and Resto Bar along Orchids Street in Brgy. Capitol Site, this city.

Aside from Perez, some of the country's highly-rated players have also confirmed their entry in the three-day contest including Jojo Barellano of Davao City, Lourence Ilagan of Cainta, Rizal, Boy Gionson of Navotas, Dodong Nolora of Butuan, Ding Sumulong of Pasig, Ricky Mijares of Quezon City, Boie Parfan III of Makati, Dixie Ybañez of Cagayan de Oro and Andy Villamor of Butuan City.

A total of P300,000 in cash prize is at stake for the winners of what is considered as the biggest and richest darts tournament in the Vis-Min region.

"It will be a very competitive event because some of best players in the country will be joining in. Hopefully our team, the Cebu City Niños, will do good this time," said City Councilor Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba during a press conference yesterday at Yayoy's Grill.

"As the host, our players should give their best shot. They should not allow the out-of-town participants to take the lion's share of the prize money," added Alcoseba.

In response to the challenge posed by Alcoseba, Cebu City Hall Employees Darts Association (CHEDA) president Bert S. Colong, Jr. said they have prepared for the big event by holding a weekly competition since December last year.

"We started our training last December in preparation for this big tournament. Hopefully we will get the championship," said Colong.

Cebu will be bannered by a slew of rated darters in the likes of Roy Laude, Odong Pamatian, Steve Montenegro, Rodmar Branzuela and Roniel Pedrosa.

The other Cebuano contenders include Reyden Colina, Jomar Amerol, Dario Potot, Dicoy Ramirez, Winnie Ocañada, Jerous Ponce and Alvin Villa.

The categories to be contested in the National Darts Federation of the Philippines (NDFP)-sanctioned event are the men's open, ladies, youth and seniors singles, fixed doubles, classified draw doubles and triples and Councilor's Cup (four person team).

The biggest slice of the purse will go to the men's open, with the champion pocketing P25,000. The second placer will receive P12,500, while the joint third and fourth will get P6, 250 each.

The other top winners will take home P24,000 in the Councilor's Cup, P16,000 in the classified draw doubles, P16,000 in the fixed doubles, P15,600 in the classified draw triples, P8,000 in the ladies singles, P6,000 in the seniors singles and P3,000 in the youth singles.

A P10,000 bounty awaits the player who can hit a perfect 9-darts out in the open singles.

For registration and further information, one may keep in touch with Bert Colong, Jr. at (032) 516-8593, 0933-5884555 or 0928-7647681, Winnie Ocañada at 0916-4689819 or Marvin Orlina at (02) 372-3541 or 0923-2354651. (FREEMAN)