Kadayawan sportsfest ‘went well’ -- Mikey
THE month-long 32nd Kadayawan Sportsfest, which cost some P3 million to mount, "went well" in general, according to Sports Development Division-City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) Michael Denton "Mikey" Aportadera.
One of the supposed highlights of the annual sportsfest was the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament held August 27 at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gym but the fourteam tournament turned out to be a two-team league after De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws forfeited their games due to a benchclearing brawl at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center last August 25.
Aportadera, in Thursdays Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum held at The Annex of SM City Davao, said the sportsfest, which started with Sunday Bowlers Club (SBC) bowling, taekwondo and karate, pushed through despite few glitches that marred the dragonboat competition and the basketball tournament.
He bared that all cash prizes were given on time.
"There was just a problem with one supplier who was not able to deliver the dragonboat medals on time but everything else went fine," Aportadera said, adding that President Rodrigo R. Duterte was elated that the city hosted a national dragonboat event. Thus, they might consider holding an international tournament within the next two years.
The city sports chief also said that he requested that the city keep the eight champion boats for the use of local dragonboat teams. But he maintained he will have to meet with them first, hoping to unite different groups before he will let them use the boats for training.
Next year, he added, will be busy as the city will host the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet and preparations for the 2019 hosting of the Palarong Pambansa will also shift to high gear.
The city will also host the 70.3 Cobra Ironman triathlon event in 2018.