TUSOK BALITA ONLINE - A Publication of the National Darts Federation of the Philippines
CHITO YACAPIN DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 13
Updated January 15, 2014
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Three (3) big tournaments were played simultaneously last Saturday in Metro Manila: P20K by MCDA in Makati (154 participants), P10K by Samda in Sampaloc, Manila (128 participants), and a day before organized Cainta tournament (60 players); plus the 12 teams playing in Marikina’s Villa Veranda Darts League. Wow! Over 400 players playing competitive darts noong Sabado, ang dami!  Anong kaguluhan ito?  In English, what is the meaning of all this?  Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito, mga kapukol - Darts is exploding big time this year and it will continue to soar to unprecedented heights never seen in darts history.

No doubt about it, our beloved sport is entering a new age, superseding its glory days before.  And to think that a P20K tournament was held just the night before in Biñan, Laguna, a P50K Halad Dart Classic tournament in Cotabato, and the Pinoys playing in Singapore that weekend. Actually, this is the second consecutive back-to-back good attendance tournaments following the successful back-to-back P20K games in December’s final week at Ambassador Hotel and last week in Casa Muy Bien.  
     
I asked Tito Soncuya’s thoughts on this latest developments and he said that this is good coz it redounds to the benefit of the darters - “Sabay-sabay na tournaments mean more cash prizes for darters- para din maiiwan ang matino, maayos at tibay ng maka-darterong organizers”. The growing emergence of various dart groups, individual organizers, venue owners, and barangay sponsors show there is no one monopolizing the tournament schedules and darters can freely choose where to play depending on geographical and financial considerations. All the events have been financially rewarding so far at sana, tuloy-tuloy ang ligaya ng mga darters at ng mga organizers. 
  
International News:  Pinoy darters, carrying the Shanghai Darts Singapore team colors, won the Doubles and 4-man team events in a Malaysian tourney. According to our incomparable international darts blogger RB Botor, this is an inspiring opening salvo win in darts competition overseas for 2014.  And definitely this is not the last...........  

Tidbits:   Umuugong ng malakas sa Facebook ang mga hinanaing ng darters critical sa pamamalakad ng DCP at siyempre tungkol sa walang kamatayang topic na NDFP vs. DCP. There are two lengthy blogs posted by a darts oldtimer hiding under the name of Real Time and he is advocating a signature campaign for change in leadership which I just read is going to be launched soon. Abangan ng maigi ang kabanatang ito sa dramang tiyak na makaka apekto sa buhay ng dartero...........

Continuation of dart stories 2013 :   Mga heartbreak darters for 2013.

Andy Villamor -  Dalawang beses na naging beaten finalist sa Philippine Qualifier in 2011 and 2012,  he suffered another heartbreaking setback in 2013 by finishing in 4th place. Malaking kasiyahan at karangalan ng karaniwang darters ang makapasok sa top 32 sa PQ, but not for the Valencia, Bukidnon native. Hinahangad at inaasam-asam rin niya na marepresent ang bansa sa prestihiyosong London tournament. He came close to the crown 3 times and each time, he says the loss hurts deeper.  But he has had great success too. He is one of the rare few Pinoy darters to beat The Gunner in a finals game abroad ( Singapore Open). He is still feared in commercial games (pustahan) and he won a bunch of local as well as international tournaments which he started participating only in 2013.  But the Ladbrokes dream still burns foremost in his heart...........

Cris Salinas -  The Blackhawk placed joint 3rd and 4th place in the Philippine Qualifier.  Pero ang mas nakakaaliw ay ang magandang kwento sa buhay niya na maitutulad mo sa isang makabagbag damdaming telenovela. Ang Salinas family ay malaking angkan – meron from Negros Occidental, meron taga Bicol, taga Manila, and Cris has his humble beginnings in Malibay, Pasay. He worked as a waiter in Amber’s Best, where rated darters like Ricky Santiago, Mon Oliveros, Pipo Garcia play. This is where he learned how to play darts. Dahil sa kanyang talent at determination, he became a rated darter and whom a young upstart darter named Lou Ilagan had difficulty defeating.

Cris possess rugged good looks, has a six pack body at naispatan siya ng talent scout ng showbiz.  Kinuha siya as an extra, a waiter  in a San Miguel beer commercial starring the late FPJ. Sobrang saya ni Blackhawk at pinamalita niya sa lahat ng  kamag-anak, kaibigan, kapitbahay at sa buong mundo.  Nag report siya sa set, mabango, bagong ligo at contodo porma - white long sleeves polo, black pants at bowtie. In his own words, naka espoting. Ang eksena niya ay lalapit siya sa table ni FPJ at ilapag ang tray of beer. Pinagmalaki niya na take one lang ang kuha ng scene niya.  Nung pinalabas ang commercial sa TV at inabangan ng marami, ang nakita lang ay ang kanyang kamay na nag-abot ng tray. Di nakita ang mukha. Oh shet! Napakaikli ng kanyang showbiz career. Pati sa buhay, ang daming dinaanang paghihirap at pagsubok pero si Cris ay di bumibigay.  Blackhawk is up, never down...........

More exciting tournaments are lined up on the drawing board this year. Keep updated with Buddy The Champion  Mesias’ latest announcements. And the one big tournament to watch is the Feb 8 Barangay fiesta tournament in Camarin, Upper North Caloocan, organized by Kagawad Bernie Arroyo.  P20K, P150.00 entry fee and a strict observance of 7pm gametime.  Asan ka pa?

DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 21, Sept 04, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 20, July 11, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 19, June 05, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 18, May 19, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 17, April 14, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 16, March 12, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 15, February 19, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 14, February 07, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 13, January 15, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 12, January 03, 2014
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 11, December 09, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 10, November 29, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 9, November 20, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 8, October 17, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 7, September 16, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 6, September 02, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 5, August 28, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 4, August 22, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 3, August 15, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 2, August 11, 2013
DART DIARY ENTRY NO. 1, August 02, 2013