SOME 41 teams representing schools and football clubs have already signed up for this year’s Mosman Cup, slated on October 25 and 26 at the Nomad Sports Club in Merville Park, Parañaque.

Among the early entries in the October 25-and-26 meet are British School Manila, International School Manila, Early Learning Center, Poveda Learning Center, Pabol Football Club, Union Football Club and Nomads Football.

Sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the six-a-side tournament will now have five age brackets, two more than last year—eight-and-under, 10-and-under, 12-and-under, 14-and-under and 16-and-under.

“Mosman Cup 2008 promises to be bigger and more exciting, as we’ve expanded participation to include children 14 to 16 years old,” said Jena Fetalino of the organizing Mosman Communications in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue Tuesday.

The tournament will also offer more freebies, special product offers and surprise activities for the whole family,” added the president of the meet’s organizer.

Also present in the same forum, sponsored by Shakey’s, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Accel, Brickroad Gym, Aspen Spa and MedCentral Medical Clinics and Diagnostic Center, was tournament official Ding Generoso, who said the event will be a two-day affair with a knockout format.

“The first day is the knockout eliminations, while the championship games will be held the following day,” he added.

Mosman Communications launched Mosman Cup last year as part of its advocacy in promoting good health among Filipinos, especially children.

Last year Mosman Cup drew about 800 participants, comprising 57 teams from 17 schools and football clubs, including children from a small school run by the Philippine Christian Foundation in Smokey Mountain.

Interested parties are encouraged to register via the Mosman Cup web site (mosmancup.com), or join the Facebook group.

Strong Signal

LOS ANGELES—Finally, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for Kobe Bryant.

Regarded as the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) best player for several years but never its most valuable, Bryant earned the honor at last on Tuesday after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. He called the award a blessing and an honor and emphasized he wants another trophy this year.

San Mig Coffee reaches PBL semis

SAN MIG Coffee won’t allow another miraculous comeback by the hard-fighting Toyota Otis five.

The Coffee Kings played with more aggressiveness and cohesion in their do-or-die battle to secure a 64-68 win over the Sparks in a physical quarterfinal match Wednesday in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Oreta Sports Center in Malabon City.

DEFENDING champion Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-San Miguel Corp.-Marcelo Racing is not the arrive-and-drive type of competitor but he did it for once—with much pizzazz—for his third-straight sweep of the recent 2008 Shell Karting Super Series at the Cebu Kart Zone in Cebu City.

REIGNING world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo recovered from a slow start to beat Eduardo Villanueva, 8-5, and barge into the knockout stage of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Billiards Tournament Wednesday at the Sports Center of StarMall Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

SOME 41 teams representing schools and football clubs have already signed up for this year’s Mosman Cup, slated on October 25 and 26 at the Nomad Sports Club in Merville Park, Parañaque.

THE second to the last time the Celtics were in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, I was out dancing in an Iloilo disco with Mon Fernandez, Freddie Hubalde, Willie Generalao, Padim Israel, Tony Torrente and a dozen or so Tanduay fans and Elizalde employees led by Jovie Valenzona, Coach Turo’s cousin.