San Beda, Ateneo To Join Dinagyang Celebration

Iloilo City is bracing up for several sports events this month as added attraction to the Dinagyang Festival, with highlights celebrated on January 25-26.

Sports committee chairman Jojo Castro said the events will be kicked off with a goodwill basketball tournament on January 17 at the University of San Agustin gymnasium between University Athletic Association of the Philippine's (UAAP) Ateneo Blue Eagles, and the San Beda Red Lions, four-time defending champions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Dubbed as "Dinagyang Classico: The Epic Battle," the basketball match will showcase the strength, skill and power of athletes from UAAP and NCAA.

A fun run will also be held on January 19, and about 1,000 runners are expected to attend. Gun start will be at 4:30 a.m. at SM City. Cash prizes will be awarded to top runners, but all finishers will get T-shirts, certificates and medals.

Iloilo City will also host the first triathlon competition in Western Visayas.

To be held on January 25, the triathlon includes a 1.5 kilometer swim at the Anhawan Beach resort in Oton, Iloilo, 40-kilometers bike race from Anhawan to the municipality of San Miguel and back, and 10-kilometer run from Anhawan to the city.

Castro said that other sports activites set during the Dinagyang week are airsoft gun competition, taekwondo, swimming at the Iloilo sports complex, arnis and beach volleyball.

Other sports competition not included in the Dinagyang committee but will be held during the festival are golf, tennis and dart throwing.

source: SunStar

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