Teams from 10 countries in the Asia Pacific, lead by powerhouse Chinese Taipei, have confirmed their participation to the August 3 to 5 5th Asia Pacific Tchoukball Championships set at the West Negros University Gym in Bacolod City.

In a press conference, Philippine Tchoukball Federation national chairman Gary Visitacion said they are expecting nine more countries to join in the competition with host Philippines hoping to barge into the final four.

Despite being relatively new to the sports, he said the Philippines has shown its potential as it captured the men’s title in the 2nd Southeast Asia Tchoukball Championships in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, October last year.

Visitacion said it was the first time in the history of tchoukball in Asia that a younger team prevailed over Singapore, considered one of the top teams in the region.

As the host country of the Asia Pacific Championships, he said the Philippines will have the privileged to field the top two teams, Bacolod and Davao squad, who figured in the finals of the Philippine Open held recently in Cebu City.

Meanwhile, coach Raymund Jamelo of the Philippine team said the Filipinos will be giving its best to make it to the top four as both squads have been deep into training in their respective areas.

Donning the national colors in the tournament for the host country are Joseph Matulac, Kano Marion Rosales, Judel Roy Lacson, Julien Carlo Miraflor and John Elray Jamelo.

Soliciting public support for the national team in the Asia Pacific tournament, coach Jamelo said more people are becoming aware of tchoukball as a new sports in the country.

Considered as the fastest handball game, he said demonstration games have been played at the Trinity Christian School, St. John’s Institute, Bacolod City National High School, and in Kabankalan City.

A tchoukball game requires each team to have at least 12 players in the lineup with seven players from each side playing on the court. To score a point, the ball must be thrown by an attacking player, hit the frame and bounce outside the 'D' without being caught by the defending team.

Physical contact is prohibited, and defenders may not attempt to intercept the attacking team's passes. Players may take three steps with the ball, hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds, and teams may not pass the ball more than three times before shooting at the frame.*NAB

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