While Game On! The Podcast's debut ep only featured its three hosts - podcasters - reintroducing themselves and orienting what “Game On!” has in store for all the sports fans, Martin, Anton, and Coach Hammer went all out in revealing whom they would truly love to have on the pod - and boy are those names some of the most legendary luminaries in Philippine sports history.

PROMISING PILOT EPISODE

Sports aficionados have a ton to look forward to as GMA Integrated News dropped the much-awaited pilot episode of “Game On,” GMA’s first-ever all sports podcast, last April 12.

The dynamic trio of resident NCAA anchors Martin Javier and Anton Roxas, together with long-time sports analyst and coach Martin “Hammer” Antonio, was introduced as its hosts - an all-familiar territory for the real life sports pals.

“‘Game On’ is finally a podcast, we are very happy about this. Kung doon po sa TV version, it’s all about the NCAA, hapyaw lang kami ng iba’t ibang sports, but here on the pod we are going to cover a wide range of topics. Kung ano yung latest, we are hoping to cover those,” shared Martin, talking briefly about the history of what used to be an in-between NCAA segment show on television.

“Mas maraming info, mas maraming palitan, at mas maraming chikahan,” added Coach Hammer. 

Anton, a 15-year sports broadcast veteran who has covered virtually everything from ball games, to chess, to mixed martial arts, promised that he will go all out with his queries targeted to the future guests of Game On.

“Makakasama natin yung paborito nating athletes and idols, and I think in any podcast, yun yung inaabangan ng mga tao, so if you guys have any person in mind na gusto niyong kausapin namin, we promise you that we will ask the most hard-hitting and burning questions to these personalities to get to know them even more,” the NCAA anchor said with conviction.

GAME ON! DREAM GUESTS

Sharing whom they dream of inviting to come on the pod, Anton and Coach Hammer did not hold back. 

“My dream guest has always been Coach Ramil de Jesus,” bared Anton, revealing that he has long dreamt of having a sit-down conversation with the multi-titled and legendary coach of the DLSU Lady Spikers.

“I don't think there has been a one on one interview, at least I haven't come across one… of course I’ve had conversations with him and I know his background. Pero yung to sit down with him, talk about his journey, and he is one of the most brilliant minds in Philippine sports history. So medyo impossible dream yun,” explained the sports anchor, who had nothing but high praises for the award-winning volleyball coach. 

“Kung nanonood ka man Coach Ramil, for years i have been trying to get you on, hopefully mapagbigyan mo kami ng pagkakataon,” he quipped.

He mentioned other bigtime names such as PBA Most Valuable Player and Gilas Pilipinas leader CJ Perez, who’s also an NCAA product and a league MVP himself for the LPU Pirates. He also hopes to guest volleyball star and now broadcast panelist Michelle Gumabao.

As for Coach Hammer, he looks forward to talking to fellow basketball architects mentors, whom he believes he has a lot to relate with, being a strength and conditioning coach himself. 

“Ako yung dream conversation ko… isa sa mga idols ko talaga, Jawo! Robert Jaworski,” said Coach Hammer with a huge smile on his face. Robert Jaworski, also known as the “Living Legend,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest Filipino basketball players to have ever touched the leather, playing 23 decorated years in the PBA and a many-time captain of the national team.

“Ako kasi basketball junkie ako eh, so Jawo, Coach Joe Lipa - mga old school. Kasi yun yung mga nakalakihan ko, so medyo lumalabas na part ako of that older generation. I would've wanted to have a conversation with the late great Coach Ato Badolato (1946-2021), Coach Rob Jacobs (1942-2015), because I am a coach,” he explained, further detailing how interested he is in picking the minds of esteemed coaches and trainers.

Martin, meanwhile, opted to sound more vague about his dream guest. His qualifier though, is that he wants to invite the greatest minds both on the local and international stage.

“We got to dream big bro! So yes, international!” he claimed, playfully suggesting that he would love Lebron James to “come on down” and be Game On’s guest in the future.

GAME ON! NOW STREAMING

The promising debut of “Game On” is but a tiny fraction of what it has in store for its listeners, as it looks to feature the best and the brightest minds in Philippine sports today. 

More inspiring news and conversations are coming your way now that GMA Integrated News’ newest podcast has arrived and is available on all streaming apps (Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast).

To catch more updates about the pod, tune in to all the social media platforms of GMA Integrated News, GMA Sports and GMA Synergy.