Cebu-Japan team rules Int’l Gateball

THE CEBU-JAPANESE Team, a mix of Filipino and Japanese players based in Cebu, topped the two-day International Invitational Gateball Tournament held over the weekend in barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.

According to tournament director Epitacio Lasaca, the champion team won trophies and medals.

The Kaabag Team from Mandaue City won second place honors while Japan’s Miagi C Team won third place. Fourth place went to RRDS Team from Mandau City.

Five teams from Japan joined the tournament together with six teams from Manila and five teams from Cebu. Teams were composed mostly of seniors players.

Endo Yushibiru, the President of the Gateball Union of the World, personally attended the event to meet with the Philipine teams from Manila and Cebu.

According to Yushibiru, gateball is played in many countries. It was introduced in the Philippines in 1992 starting in Manila. Presently, the country has about 300 players while Japan has about 150,000.

Yushibiru said the Japanese government is supporting this game since this is one way of promoting good health to the seniors citizens of Japan.

“In the Philippines, the gateball union has the support of the Local Government Unit on their activities,” said Jesus “Boy” Barz, president of Gateball Union of the Philippines and also a barangay councilor of barangay Ibabao-Estancia in Mandaue City.

Mandaue City has become the center of gateball in the region. In fact, it is set to hold an inter-barangay gateball tournament soon to serve as a kick-off activity for Mandaue City’s fiesta celebration this May.  /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA