Singapore, RP rule Asian dodgeball

MANILA, Philippines - The Singapore Dodgers and host RP’s Kamikaze finished in the top two in the open and mixed divisions in the first Asian Dodgeball Workshop and Friendship Games at the covered courts of the Quezon City Memorial Circle over the weekend.

Univ. of the Phils.’ TDC and the University of Caloocan Sharks, meanwhile, dominated the all-female section of the event, one of the fast growing sports not only in the country but in Asia as well.

Benedict Camara, then a senior College of Human Kinetics student at UP, pushed for the growth of the sport here after watching the sports comedy movie DodgeBall in 2004.

“When I was still a student five or six years ago, I dream of making an impact,” said Camara, who with friends organized an association for the sport. “And then I got into dodgeball and everything just fell into place.”

Camara and his group then founded the Philippine Dodgeball Association.

“It’s a sport where it’s not only fun but where one can get the exercise,” said Camara, who was recently elected president of the Asian Dodgeball Federation that included members from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

According to Camara, dodgeball is easy to play as its name clearly suggests – dodging a ball.

For one to score, players must try to hit other players with balls and at the same time try to avoid, or to simply put it, dodge being hit by the ball.

The PDA have also conducted clinics in various universities like UP, Miriam College and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Camara also announced the election of other ADF officers like Ramona Yuen (vice-president) of Malaysia, Neoh Yi Hui (secretary-general) and Brian Li (treasurer) of Hong Kongwith Adrienne Li and Emmanuel Tan of Singapore, Wai Tat Yeo of Malaysia and Karen Caballero of RP as board members.

“Our next step now is to get Philippine Olympic Committee recognition and we’ve already submitted our application and it’s the works now,” said Camara.