TUSOK BALITA ONLINE - A Publication of the National Darts Federation of the Philippines

YOUTH DARTERS SHINE AND INSPIRE AT JAY HARROW SANTOS CUP

 Share on Facebook
 
 
Young darting talents shined bright at the Jay Harrow Santos Cup held recently from January 23 to 25 at the Il Centro by Sta. Lucia Mall in Cainta, Rizal.

Mylene “Mymy” Santos, Darling Daughter of Taytay

15 year-old Mylene Santos of Taytay bested 22 experienced lady darters to top the Ladies Singles event Saturday afternoon.  Her journey to the finals is highly impressive, winning over top notch lady darters such as Team One Philippines’ Angie Valmadrid in the top 8, Issa Granada of Mandaluyong in final four, and Jingle Montebon of Dasmariñas Darts in the finals.  The following day, she made a sweeping win over all of Pasay’s youth players, losing only to JM Abacan of Yeahbaby Darts to land on Joint 5th-8th spot in the Youth Singles.

Mymy is a product of the Youth Singles tournaments in Taytay under the guidance of Orlan Bernardino of the United Darters of Taytay.

Mymy, as she is fondly called, comes from a family of dart enthusiasts.  She is the youngest of five siblings, four of which play darts.  Her father Renato Santos introduced them to the sport by tagging them along to dart tournaments. She started throwing darts at age 9 in their home, and began joining tournaments at age 13.  “Parati po ako sumasali ng Darterong Pinoy, maganda po kasi ang exposure”, she says regarding tournaments she’s joined before.

Mymy is a 4th year high school student at the Casimiro A. Henares Memorial National High School, and hopes to take up Architecture in college.  “Nung Lunes lang po ako nag-practice kasi po sobrang busy sa school dahil graduating po ako.  Nagkataon lang po na maganda ang bato ko ngayon”, she said humbly after being asked how it feels to win over experienced and top lady darters.

In her free time, Mymy joins her father in teaching kids how to play darts at their home on weekends. “Madalas po, nagpapaturo rin mga classmates ko”, she beams.   “Masaya po magturo kasi napa-practice rin po ako”, Mymy adds.  She looks up to Lourence Ilagan as her idol, “Una ko po sya napanuod sa exhibition game, hindi ko po makalimutan yung galing nya”.

 Mymy hopes to maintain, if not improve her ranking with the NDFP, “Ngayon po nasa rank 21 ako.  Sana po ma-maintain ko lang”.

John Herald Cinco, Future Dart Hero of Pasig

John Herald Cinco, 14 years old from Pasig City made waves under the banner of Team Jay Harrow during the 3-day event. John won the Youth Singles over Leonard Silverio of Mandaluyong City in a heart thumping decision game. Leonard Silverio, the pride of Mandaluyong City and 2011 winner of the Darterong Pinoy (16 yrs old and below) was heavily cheered by his throng of supporters from Mandaluyong City, who went dumb folded as John Cinco threw three (3) 4T0’s in a single leg.

Enroute to the finals, John Cinco won decision matches over Jhay Doria, the NDFP top youth player who won the last five (5) Youth Singles, and in the top 4 over JM Abacan, Youth Singles champion of the Zambales Open and the Fix-Doubles Champion (with Paolo Nebrida) of the 1M Manny Pacquiao Tournament.

In the opening night, John Cinco partnered with Boie Parfan in the Classified Draw Doubles and landed Joint 3rd/4th.  In the Open Singles, he beat Nayr Ocampo in the first match but eventually lost in a decision game to Dennis Quirong of Makati.

John is the youngest of three children.  He was forced to stop school this year due to financial difficulties.   His father, Rodolfo Cinco, earns a living as a vendor at the Mandaluyong Cockpit Arena. 

John’s exposure to darts was through his father who would play in their eskinita (sidestreet).  Eventually, John learned to play killers with money bets, “Natuto po ako dahil sa pustahan”, he grins.  Asked when he started taking darts seriously, he shares, “Last year lang po.  May nagbenta po ng dartboard, 450 pesos lang.  Yung pambili po namin ng gasul pinambili po namin ni Papa dun sa dartboard.  Nagalit si Mama, kaya po sineryoso ko paglalaro para masulit yung dartboard”.  Since then, John practiced religiously almost every night at their house.  “Kapag sinara po yung bahay namin ng alas-dyes, hindi na po ako makakalabas kaya nagpa-practice na lang po ako hanggang ala-una ng umaga”. 

At age 13, he started joining barangay organized tournaments where he would occasionally champion with his partner in the classified doubles.  “Nakakatulong po yung panalo, lalo po pag nagkukulang budget namin sa bahay”.  His first big tournament was the Free Registration Darterong Pinoy last year, where he placed joint 3rd-4th in the Youth Singles and in the Classified Draw Triples.

He doesn’t own any dart set and uses his father’s old tungsten dart pin in competitions. A new dart set was given to John by NDFP President Tito Soncuya who said, “You cannot realize your full potential if you are using a part-time dart set”.

John enjoys darts because he gets to meet other darters.  Aside from darts, he plays Crossfire, an online game.  He doesn’t have a Facebook account.  Asked what his inspiration is in playing darts, he candidly shares, “Yung suporta po ng parents ko, lalo na ng Nanay ko”

Skill and talent not only shined for both Mymy and John at the Jay Harrow Santos Cup.  Their heart and passion for the sport also echoed in the games they played.  We hope that by sharing their stories, we too can share the inspiration, heart, and passion these young dart athletes imparted to us.