UV scrabble players to join two international tourneys

CEBU - The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Wizards will once again be representing the country in two international scrabble competitions in Malaysia this week.

The decorated Theodoro Marthus and Michael Lapus will vie for top honors in the Asian Causeway Scrabble Challenge on December 4-7 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Marthus and Lapus are the reasons why UV remained undefeated in scrabble events in Cebu and in other parts of the country.

Last year, Marthus topped the Philippine Open Scrabble Championships (POSC) that earned him ticket to the World Scrabble Champions (WSC) in India.

This year, Marthus will try his luck anew in the 2008 POSC with hopes of earning right to represent the country to the World Championships in United States.

On the other hand, Joy Policher, a junior student from the UV High School department, was chosen to form part of the RP team for the World Youth Scrabble Championships on December 9-11 at Bayview Hotel in Penang, Malaysia .

This 15-year-old Policher is the lone representative chosen from the Visayas and Mindanao areas to join the elite national squad.

Pulicher entered UV athletics as a chess player, but shifted her interest to scrabble when she was in second year.

Playing in Board 1, Policher powered UV to the scrabble championship in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) and Cebu City Olympics.

When the National Scrabble of the Philippines (NASCAP) scouted one participant from the Vis-Min areas, they spotted Policher due to her achievements and skills.

“I won’t promise anything, but I’ll assure you that I’ll do anything at my best not only for Cebu but for our country as well,” said Policher.

Last Thursday, the UV Green Wizards paid a courtesy call on UV Executive Vice President Dr. Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas.

Gullas expressed his full support to UV's international hopefuls, who are yearning to bring fame not only for their alma mater but also for the entire Filipino nation.

“I am very proud and happy for these athletes. That is why we will support them all the way. This is one way of how we promote our athletes not only to excel in this part of the country but also to international competitions, ” said Gullas.

The UV word wizards were accompanied in their Malaysia trip by their head coaches Faith Ledonga, and Marcia Malvas and team manager Annabelle “An-an” Gullas. - FREEMAN NEWS