By Jerome Lagunzad
Top cock breeders and handlers from all all corners of the globe are back in town as they vie for supremacy in the 2018 World Slasher Cup Invitational 9-Cock Derby that gets going on Monday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Filipino Frank Berin, the reigning back-to-back champion, intends to extend his dominance in one of the most prestigious derbies which has lured some of his crack counterparts from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia and United States.
“Baka sakaling maka-chamba ulit. Baka may swerte pa,” Berin, 46, said yesterday during the event’s press launch held at the Versailles Tent inside the Novotel-Manila in Araneta Center, Quezon City.
Pulling off the trick for the third consecutive time, however, won’t be an easy task. “Mabigat ang laban ngayon kasi ‘pag January, andito lahat ‘yung magagaling na manok, mga bagong lugon. Kaya kailangan paghandaang mabuti,” said Berin.
Four-time World Slasher Cup champion Patrick Antonio is among the familiar faces back in the hunt alongside perennial contenders Boy Marzo, Dicky Lim, Biboy Enriquez, and Joey Sy.