World Slasher on today

The Millennium 2000 World Slasher eight-cock derby gets underway today at the Araneta Coliseum with elimination round matches on tap beginning at 4 p.m.

Hosted by sportsmen-businessmen Jorge "Nene" Araneta, Jun Santiago, Ito Ynares and Tony Tan, the three-day event, organized by the National Cockers Association, will start with the two-cock elims today and on Wednesday. The four-cock finals will be held Friday.

Leading American cocker-breeders, headed by Bobby Jones of Texas, James MacWhite of Tennessee and North Carolina's Tom Cooper and Jeff Hudspeth who will carry the colors of Cedar Creek-Binangonan, are seeking revenge after being shut out last year by their Filipino counterparts.

Also beefing up the US delegation are the entries of world champions Ray Alexander of Alabama, Dan Gray of Louisiana and Carol NeSmith of Mississippi, Tennessee's Oscar Akins, George Torres, Jesse Horta and Romy Arciaga of California, Oakgrove's Gene Brown, Mike Glover, Dwayne Lind, James Wright, Greg Engal and Scott Baird of Alabama and Donny Joe Sparks of Texas.

Defending champion Philippines will be led by derby host Jorge "Nene" Araneta (Thunderbird-Firefly II), who emerged last year's World Slasher co-champion with noted derbyist Jun Jingco and brother Rudy and Jet Fernando (Jima-Fer) of Pampanga; and Cocker of the Year former Rep. Rudy Albano (Mulawin I) and second leg solo winner Liza Galore of Eddie and Bomboy Araneta. Also in the fold are Danding Cojuangco and Pete Rodriguez, Boy Jiao, World Slasher co-hosts Jun Santiago, Rizal Gov. Ito Ynares and Tony Tan, Tonette Luzuriaga and Bob Cuenca, Iking Araneta, Alex Escalona, Jun Cometa, the Madlambayan brothers, John Capinpin, Peping Cojuangco and Esting Teopaco.