Shakey's Girls VB slated at Arellano U

Thirty-six schools from Metro Manila are competing in Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 5 to be held at the Arellano University gym starting Saturday.

The event is backed by Petron Treats, Toby’s Sports, Dunkin’ Donuts, Mikasa and Asics.

“We at Shakey’s are proud on how these girls have developed to become National Girls Youth players which competed in the seventh Asian Youth Championship hosted by the Philippines last October,” said Coochy Mamaclay, Shakey’s brand manager, functions and events.

“We will continue with this advocacy, which we started five years ago to help develop the sport at this level. It is our hope that this league will continue to produce better players to form future national teams,” said Mamaclay.

“Most of the teams lost their veteran players to the collegiate levels. It will be interesting to see the action from the new wave of players who have likewise honed up on their skills in other Metro sports leagues in the elementary level,” said organizer Freddie Infante.

Philippine Volleyball Federation secretary-general Otie Camangian, meanwhile, said FIVB revised volleyball rules may be adopted by the league.

Opening day action will pit last year’s first runner-up University of Santo Tomas against current WNCAA junior volleyball champion San Beda Alabang at 10 a.m. followed by Angeles University Foundation against De La Salle-Lipa at 11 a.m.

Afternoon matches will have UNIDA Christian College vs University of Perpetual Help-Laguna at 1 p.m. and St. Joseph’s College QC vs Valenzuela Nat’l High School at 2 p.m.

Manlapaz leads Binay Cup winners

Raymond Manlapaz led nine other champions of the Mayor Jejomar Binay fourth quarter National Quarterly Age-Group Table Tennis Championship over the weekend at the Koliseum ng Bayan in Washington Pio Del Pilar, Makati.

Manlapaz, of Makati-Smart, a product of Makati City Councilor Jun-jun Binay’s sports clinic, swept Fritz Mendoza of University of the East, 11-6. 11-7, 11-8, in the finals to capture the boy’s 17-and-under title.

Jaezl May Engeniero of UE gained the girls’ 17-U crown after beating Joma Sibal of Saint Martin, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6, in the two-day tournament supported by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

In the 14-and-under, Karl Uy of TATAND defeated Ken Carado of Saint Martin, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, for the boys’ trophy and Joma Sibal of Saint Martin earned the girls’ title after whipping May Engeniero, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6.

In other results, Ryan Jacolo of Exotic TT club claimed his second leg title in the boys 10-U by beating Daniel Sugatan of Dasmariñas, 11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, and Angel Sanchez won the girls’ crown against Katrina Columna, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.   

Justine Chen of Fil-Chi defeated Ralph Chua, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, to claim the boys’ 12-U title and Jamaica Sy tripped Samantha Ingeniero of P. Gomez, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9, for the girls’ crown of the event organized by coach Antonio “Gigi” Aguinalde.

Ting Ledesma of Fil-Chi dominated Johan Remaneses of Andro, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, for the men’s non-rank crown and Nezy Aragon of Pasig City defeated Aileen Armando, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, for the girls’ title.

Cebu hosts P3M Pinoy Poker Tour

Texas Hold ‘em Poker brings Filipino Poker Tour (FPT) to Cebu beginning tomorrow with the country’s top players clashing for a total minimum pool prize of P3 million in the Bravio Cup in Mandaue City.

The two-day event ending Sunday serves as the first FPT event to be held outside Manila with a banner field expected to participate at the Bravio Sports and Resto Lounge starting at 12:30 p.m.

Free qualifiers via free-roll satellite tournaments were held at the PokerStars.com with online winners receiving round trip airfare and hotel accommodations for the Cebu leg. For details, log on to www.filipinopokertour.com.

For its first season, the FPT, sanctioned by Pagcor, has produced six poker millionaires, including Mike Tyler of Cebu City, Kent Del Rosario of Roxas City and Neil Arce of Alabang.

Bravio is an ideal hub for poker in the central Philippines with eight regular poker tables, pool tables and lounge, a full service restaurant, massage room and a great staff.

PokerStars.com has hosted several premier poker tournaments all over the world, including the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), satellites to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), the European Poker Tour (EPT) and most recently, the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) 2008 in Macau, Seoul, Auckland, Manila and Sydney, Australia.