Crack int’l field vies in World Slasher 2

MANILA, Philippines — Frank Berin, Dante Eslabon and the Escolin brothers brace for a tough challenge in their title retention drive in the World Slasher Cup Invitational 9-Cock Derby 2 unfolding Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The co-defending champions will be facing a formidable cast led by 2018 WSC 1 solo titlist Patrick Antonio and runners-up Biboy Enriquez, Manny Berbano, Cris Sioson and Rey Canedo in the six-day event.

“I’m very confident of my chances,” said Antonio, who had amassed seven titles in the event, during yesterday’s event launch at the Novotel Araneta Center.

The two-cock eliminations will be held Sunday and Monday while the three-cock semifinals are slated May 8 -9.

Entries with 2 to 3.5 points will advance to the four-cock finals on May 11 while those with 4 to 5 points tangle in the four-cock finals on May 12.

Also fielding in their aces are Dicky Lim, Eddie Araneta, James Uy, Jimmy Junsay, Wilvin Sy, Rey Briones, Jet and Joel Fernando, Boy Marzo, Paolo Malvar, Joey Sy and the Madlambayan brothers while the foreign participants will be bannered by USA’s Charly Azucena, Ray Alexander of Alabama, Rene Medina of California, Dr. Belle Almojera of Florida, Butch Cambra of Hawaii, Carlos Camacho of Guam and Australia’s Greg Berin.