Former world pool champions Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante are set to compete in the 3rd Mayor Albee Benitez MassKara 10-ball Open Billiards Tournament at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central activity center in Bacolod City from Oct. 21-25.
“The Magician” Reyes and Bustamante are among the 4,000 athletes competing in 18 sporting events in the 3rd MassKaralympics.
Both pool legends will participate in the singles matches.
The annual competitions for the 45th MassKara Festival celebration will kick off with badminton matches at the Pohang Badminton Center and Lopue’s South Square from Oct. 4-6 starting at 7:30 a.m., the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF) said.
Benitez is expected to lead the tee-off for the golf tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club that will be held from Oct. 10-13.
Runners, cyclists, and Zumba enthusiasts will test their limits in the MassKaRun, Bike, and Zumba events on the opening day of the MassKara Festival 2024 at the Bacolod Government Center grounds on Oct. 12, starting at 5 a.m.
A visiting Singaporean team will also face off against the country’s top Tchoukball clubs at the BCC activity center, Oct. 18-20.
National paddlers, meanwhile, will compete in the table tennis tournament at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central from Oct. 13-15.
Cagers from various barangays of Bacolod will battle it out at the Barangay Villamonte Gym for the 1st Mayor Albee Benitez 3-on-3 Inter-Barangay Tournament.
“This year is more exciting. We have more games, and we have new sports like pickleball, 3×3 basketball, e-sports, darts, and frisbee,” Jose David Diaz, MassKaralympics 2024 sports head, said.
The 3-on-3 basketball event, along with the MassKara Frisbee Cup, National Pickleball Tournament, E-sports, and Darts Tournament, will debut at this year’s MassKaralympics from Oct. 12-25, featuring over 200 competitors.
The 17-under beach volleyball competitions will take place on Oct. 12-13 and Oct. 19-20, while the Open category matches are scheduled for Oct. 21-24. All matches will be held at the USLS Sandbox.
The MassKara Volleyball Cup, meanwhile, will take place at Montalbo’s Gym from Oct. 18-21, starting at 8 a.m., the BYF said.
Football clubs will also compete at the Panaad Park and Stadium pitch and at La Provincia Open Field on Oct. 19-20, starting at 7 a.m.
The Rhythmic Gymnastics National Invitationals are scheduled for Oct. 13-15 at the BCC activity center. Swimming events will be held at the St. John’s Institute Sports Pavilion from Oct. 19-20, while the chess tournament will be at 888 Chinatown Square Bacolod from Oct. 17-20.
These are the only official events sanctioned by the BYF, said Diaz, coordinator for the 3rd MassKaralympics. “It will be an action-packed MassKaralympics this October, and we look forward to bringing more fun and excitement to this year’s MassKara Festival celebration.” ||
