THE Philippine men’s and women’s dragon boat teams will see action in Malaysia and Macau, respectively, as they aim for an impressive showing for them to be able to vie in the First Asian Beach Games and eventually, the 2010 Asian Games.

Philippine Dragon Boat Federation secretary-general Judith Hakim said the men’s team will compete in the eighth Asian Dragon Boat Championship in August.

The women’s squad, on the other hand, will compete in a series of races in the Macau Dragonboat Race in June.

Hakim said the team is also busy preparing locally so that they could credibly perform for the October 18 to 26 Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia. They are also looking ahead toward a bigger competition—the 2010 Asian Games—because the sport will be debuting in the quadrennial event in Guangzhou, China.

“We are hoping to do well in the Asian Beach Games because this will be the next step for the Asian Games. We want to make a good impression in a multisport event,” said Hakim.

The team has already been making a splash internationally as the men’s team took home a gold medal in the 2007 World Dragon Boat Championship in Sydney.

Hakim said tryouts are still ongoing for a 25-person team in the 500- and 1,000-meter races.

The dragon-boat team snared three silvers and a bronze medal in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand after sweeping all six events in the 2005 Philippine SEA Games.

Son also rises

PUERTO PRINCESA—The National Capital Region (NCR) found itself making waves in the pool earlier this week. On Wednesday, it was the Big City’s foes on turf that was left eating tartan dust.

TICKETS! TICKETS!

BEIJING—Beijing organizers will try again to sell Olympic tickets online.

The final batch of domestic-market tickets—1.38 million—will go on sale beginning May 5, organizers announced Wednesday. Tickets will be sold at Bank of China outlets and on an official web site, with sales closing on June 9.

ADD Makisig Network to the list of contenders vying to become the next television coveror of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

A BUSY schedule awaits the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ambassadors of goodwill when they set foot in Bacolod City for the 2008 Smart-PBA All-Star Weekend.

BORACAY—The sand, the sea and the sun remain as alluring. But for Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Armie Igot, they feel the pressure.

THE Philippine men’s and women’s dragon boat teams will see action in Malaysia and Macau, respectively, as they aim for an impressive showing for them to be able to vie in the First Asian Beach Games and eventually, the 2010 Asian Games.

BASEBALL fever is shooting up in the metro, as now, even the kids are active in the game. All eyes are on the International Little League Association of Manila (Illam) these days after a series of activities gave the youngsters a chance to prove their love for the sport. And show promise, too.