Tok-hang Cup begins
THE 1st Phoenix TokHang Cup Basketball Tournament officially began yesterday at the Davao City Police Office covered court.
The tournament is a partnership between the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Station 1 and the Phoenix Petroleum Philip- pines, Inc.
“Ginahunahuna namo unsaon pagbuhat ug diversion para sa mga youth sa mga barangay para dili sila kaayo mututok sa drugs. Atoang designi ug tournament to keep them away from drugs and instead mag focus sa sports and wellness (We were thinking what we could do to divert the youth of the barangays from drugs. So we designed a tournament to keep them away from drugs, and instead they will focus in sports and wellness),” said City Director and DCPO Police Senior Superintendent Ronald M. Dela Rosa on how they had the idea of the tournament.
Dela Rosa also encouraged the participants to walk hand in hand with the government in fighting drugs.
“Dili nato pasagdan atong barangay madaot sa droga. Kung kinsa man nang gadula ug droga inyo nang ireport sa mga opisyales ninyo. Musabay ta sa gobyerno sa pakipaglaban sa droga. Kamo ang kaugmaon namo… kamo ang mabilin diri sa kalibutan ug kamo gyud magbantay nga dili gyud maggara ang problema sa drugs sa atuang barangay (Let us not allow our barangays to be destroyed by drugs. If you know someone who is using them, report it to your officials. Let us work together with our government in fighting drugs. You are our future… you will be the ones left in this world and you will be the ones to prevent the spreading of drug problems in your barangays,)” said Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa expects that this tournament will make the participants an example to the youth in their respective barangays.
“Mahimo sila nga model sa ilahang youth didto sa ilahang barangay nga para maenganyo sila nga maging into sa sports (They will become models to the youth in their barangay so that these youth will also be into sports,)” added Dela Rosa.
Phoenix’s Corporate Affairs Officer Ryan Pasion said that the company is happy to support this tournament.
“Kami naman sa Phoenix, anything that can help the community, nandiyan kami parati. When it comes to para sa ikabubuti ng community ang Phoenix na ang number one na supporter pagdating diyan. (Here in Phoenix, anything that can help the community, we will always be there. When it comes to the betterment of the community, Phoenix is the number one supporter,)” said Pasion.
The tournament includes 18 teams with players in the 15 years old and below age bracket. The teams are coming from barangays under Station 1.
Present during the opening ceremony were PDEA Regional Director Emerson Rosales, Police Supt. Caezar Cabuhat, Police Insp. Jose Animas and police officers.