Ilagan, Briones fancied in dartfest

World Darts Championship-bound Lourence Ilagan and Arvie Briones, the Open singles champion in the recent Sabah Open and Malacca Open Darts championships, will be the players to watch in the P2 million Manny Pacquiao International Darts Classic slated this weekend at the Lagao gym in Gen. Santos City in Mindanao.

Ilagan, who topped the RP Qualifier last September to earn a slot in the world tilt in London, lost to Briones in the semis of the Malacca Open but is expected to bounce back in the tournament sponsored by boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Up for grabs is the P320,000 top prize in the Open singles division of the tournament, also sponsored by PCSO, Robson Sportscraft, and media partners Solar Sports, Manila Bulletin, and DZSR-Sports Radio and supported by the city government of GenSan headed by Mayor Pedro Acharon.

Also seeing action in the event are Middle East darters Ronnel Botor and Ding Arduo, president of the United Filipino Dart Club of Abu Dhabi, Joseph Domanais, Gerry Flores, Joel Hizon, and Jolo Corporal from the United Arab Emirates, Gary Terso, Mel Ponce and Jun Reyes from Saudi Arabia.

Regional dart power Malaysia is also sending an all-star team composed of Ravi Sandiran, Tengku Hadzali Shah, Amin Abdul Ghani, and Anandan Tandrian who will compete in the team event.