The Mayor Bruce Matabalao 500K National Dart Tournament, held December 4-7 at City Mall of Cotabato in celebration of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival, showcased the next generation of Philippine darting talent in a thrilling Youth Singles competition. Sanctioned by the National Darts Federation of the Philippines and organized by UDK, the tournament brought together 40 young players vying for national ranking points on the official Robson Razor Bladewire Dartboard.
Emerging victorious was Oliver Ladores of Jomsa, who delivered an impressive display of focus and precision to take the top spot. Runner-up Stephen Paculba from GMD-SPV pushed Ladores to the limit but ultimately fell short in the final showdown. Sharing third and fourth place were Nong Samones (Kumpadres) and Zian Perez (Robson), while the top eight was rounded out by Kurt Wong (Takuza), Jett Galopin (UDC), Carl Buhian (UDK), and Duyane Decena (Metrix), all of whom demonstrated remarkable skill and composure under pressure.
The youth division highlighted the depth of emerging talent in the Philippine darts scene, with young players executing clutch checkouts and strategic scoring throughout the tournament. Fans and families in attendance were treated to an electric atmosphere, celebrating both competitive excellence and the camaraderie that defines the sport.
With Oliver Ladores claiming the championship, the Mayor Bruce Matabalao 500K Tournament not only honored the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival but also served as a proving ground for the Philippines’ future darting champions.
Source: NDFP
