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Philippines making international debut in American-style tackle football Saturday





On Saturday, Filipino athletes will be making their international debut in a sport many in the Philippines are probably not quite familiar with - American tackle football.

Filipinos in padded uniforms and helmets will be in Tokyo for a qualifying match against Japan for the 2015 International Federation of American Football continental championship.

The Filipinos will also be waving the banner of "Pilipinas Aguilas," the country's national tackle football team.

"Meron siyang World Cup every four years. so in 2015 magkakaroon ng World Cup. So right now we're [going to the] qualifying against Japan on April 26," Bernardo "Dodi" Palma II, founder of the American Tackle Football Association of the Philippines, said in an interview on GMA News TV's "News to Go."

Palma said his group brought the sport to the Philippines in 2010, with the league growing from an initial two teams to up to five teams.

He added his group has been granted recognition by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the International Federation of American Football.

But he admitted the team may not quite have the facilities that teams from other countries may have access to. "We have the barest, the field," he said.

Not just for big men

Not quite like basketball, where a premium is placed on height and heft, tackle football is a thinking player's game, defensive lineman JP Suarez said.

"American football is very fast-paced. There's a lot of hitting, a lot of running, there's a lot of running, it's very action-packed. On top of that, it's a thinking man's game. You have to strategize after every single play," he said, likening it to chess.

"Size doesn't matter. Every single person on the field has a role to play ... Being big doesn't mean anything, it just means you’re a bigger target or you’re slower. But being big does help in certain aspects though. So all types of players can play it," he added.

On the other hand, tight end Castri Cabatay - who lost 150 pounds while playing the game - said the game has also honed their attitudes.

"I was 350 pounds, so I lost 150 pounds and along with that came attitude adjustment, just the way I looked at life. Kahit sino gusto puwedeng magbago, yan para sa akin, if you want to change, you can do it anytime if you just believe in yourself," he said.

For future generations

Meanwhile, the players believe they will also be playing for the future of Philippine sport.

"In my poster, I'm holding my child. It's sort of like representing the future of football, for him also. What we're doing now is the starting point of what football's gonna be in the Philippines. Hopefully in the future, my son will also be joining it, following my footsteps," defensive lineman BJ Padua said. - Joel Locsin / AMD, GMA News
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