Army, Navy dragon boaters renew rivalry in Bohol race

THE entire Philippine dragon boat community is brimming with excitement over the impending clash between long-time rivals, Army and Navy in the 2nd Cobra-PDBF Club Crew Challenge on April 26-30 in Dauis, Bohol.

The Army and Navy paddlers have long dominated the local dragon boat scene, until something spoiled their otherwise healthy match-ups.

A decade ago, the Army and Navy, together with the Air Force, dominated the dragon boat field. This domination by the three comrades-in-arms in the military would be challenged by teams from Boracay and Camarines Sur.

Boracay’s development commenced in 2008, when it started to host local and international dragon boat races. CamSur emerged as a strong contender in 2009 when Gov. Elray Villafuerte, who wanted his province to become a prime water sport destination, put up a highly-competitive dragon boat team.

Those were the glory years of local dragon boating, when the best of the best would converge in Manila Bay for friendly games that would only serve to upgrade the national standards of the colorful sport.

This came to a screeching halt though, when the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) was scratched from the Philippine Olympic Commission (POC) roster in 2011.

Today, the Navy dominates the leagues under the Philippine Canoe Kayak Association (PCKF), while the Army has been slugging it out with Lake Buhi and a fast-developing Coastguard in the PDBF-sanctioned tourneys.

Much like the Pacquiao-Mayweather non-fight, the absence of this dream match-up between the Army and the Navy in the local dragon boat scene has left a bad taste in the mouth. And it has been an agonizingly long two and a half years without a true championship match.

This month, the Army and the Navy will be seeing action together for the first time in years in a match every paddle-master has been waiting for. This is the fight for all the marbles. This is the true Battle of Champions. /Gen. Charly Holganza