Arellano dominates NCRAA cage tourney

Arellano University is starting to bear the fruits of its grassroots development program.

Drawing strength from their bench depth, the Arellano Chiefs have dominated the National Capital Region Athletic Association basketball tournament with an unblemished 7-0 (win-loss) slate.

The Junior Chiefs were equally impressive by sweeping their first three games at the expense of Emilio Aguinaldo College, Rizal Technological University and Olivarez College to likewise lead the pack.

Arellano’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams are also legitimate title contenders running second in both divisions, thanks to wins by the former over PATTS, EAC and CCM and the latter over EAC, CCM and Technological Institute of the Philippines.

The school said all these recent successes could be credited to Arellano’s strong high school program.

“We have more than 5,000 high school students and we get our talents right now from that big pool,” said Arellano U board chair Francisco P.V. Cayco.

Indeed, the Chiefs have branches in Mandaluyong, Pasig City, Malabon City, two in Pasay City and in Legarda, Manila, where it houses over a thousand high school students.

And Arellano is banking on this strength to get the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s nod to become its newest member school come next year.

“We will comply with all the requirements but we feel its our high school system that we are really strong at,” said Arellano marketing chief Val Cayco, who is also overseeing the school’s athletic program along with Leo Isaac.

The Chiefs are one of the schools knocking on the doors of the NCAA, which stated the three most important factors that would be used in the selection of a new member are entrance fee worth around P5-7 million, the compulsory participation in all sports in the first three seasons and the high school.

“We have no problem with the three, we can meet the requirements in all three mentioned,” added Cayco.

UST wins opener in Shakey’s Girls volley

Games tomorrow (Saturday) (Arellano gym)

8:30 a.m. – St. Joseph’s QC vs Colegio de San Agustin

9:30 .m. – St Jude Catholic School Santa Rosa vs St Francis of Assisi

10:30 a.m. – Hope Christian HS vs Dela Lasalle-Zobel

11:30 a.m. – Colegio de San Agustin vs Miriam

Games Sunday (Arellano gym)

8:30 a.m. – Canossa Acadmey vs DAZSMA

9:30 a.m. – San Antonio de Padua vs. San Beda Alabang

10:30 a.m. – UNIDA Christian College vs UPH-Laguna

11:30 a.m. – Dela Lasalle Zobel vs UE

Favorite University of Santo Tomas beat reigning WNCAA junior champion San Beda Alabang in straight sets at the start of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 5 last week at the Arellano University gym.     

Aleona Santiago, Alyssa Valdez and Maru Banaticla combined for 26 points as the UST tossers scored a hard-earned 25-20, 25-19 win in a big start in the series backed by Petron Treats, Toby’s Sports, Dunkin’ Donuts and Mikasa.

Dela Salle-Lipa and UAAP runner-up University of the East beat separate rivals to join UST in the win column in Division A.

Mikaela Esperanza, back from a one-year rest due to an ACL injury, and Marie Pierre Quigley contributed 34 points, including 12 kills to beat University of Perpetual Help-Laguna, 25-19, 25-14, while the UE spikers overpowered MGC New Life Academy, 25-17, 25-12.

In Division B, Valenzuela Nat’l High School routed defending champion St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City, 25-8, 25-8, UP Integrated School trounced St. Anthony School, 25-10, 25-11, and St. Mary’s College won over PAREF Rosehill, 25-20, 25-14.

Action resumes tomorrow with four games on tap at the same venue starting at 8:30 a.m. Another four-game program is scheduled on Sunday.

P1M Masters Poker Cup under way

A banner foreign field tests the top Filipino players’ mettle in the P1 million second Masters Poker Cup which gets under way today at the Masters Poker Club at Remedios Circle in Malate, Manila.

Players from Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Europe, the US and Europe have arrived in time for the three-day event ending on Sunday, raring to slug it out with the best local talents for the top P1 million purse.

Heading the local challenge are Wally Sombero, Brian Sombero, Derrick Hernandez and Rico dela Cruz while Jayjay Escultor, Jaimar Quevedo, D’Amor Nario, Nick Payaoan and Claude Bernacer banner the youth brigade out to foil the veterans’ bid in the event hosted by Masters Poker Club.

Lisa Shy, a housewife and mother of four, topped the inaugural tournament of the Masters Poker Cup, besting a number of foreign and local players and is out to make a repeat of her feat last September.

For details, contact (632) 567-3144 or (632) 994-8638 or log on to www.masterspoker.ph.

San Mig Coffee Senior Golf final leg slated

The sixth and final leg of the 2008 San Mig Coffee Sugar Free Senior Golf Series and fund-raising golf tournament will be held Dec. 19 at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club. Tee-off time is 7-9 a.m. About 150 players are expected to play.

“This early, I would like to welcome all my fellow golfing elders for the windup of our series. And once again, on behalf of the Federation, I would like to express my gratitude to San Mig Coffee Sugar Free for its generous support,” FPASGI president Ducky Paredes said.

The other sponsores are Pagcor, Smart, PAL, Unilever, Oasis Park Hotel, William Tieng, Mayor Jejomar Binay, and Citra.