Trident Ultimate Battle Grounds: Time to Battle!
After I arrived in Iloilo city from a 12 hour boat trip from Cuyo Island, Palawan last Wednesday; I found myself together with Panay Intensity's, Gio and TP player Botchok taking a 7:30am Not-So-Fastcraft trip to Bacolod city to catch a 6-7 hour bus ride to Dumaguete city, Thursday. Sounds exhausting? You bet! But I can't deny how excited I am to go back to Dumzville for the first time this year. After a short visit at "Payag sa Likod" and a couple bites of hopia, we brought our backpacks to Bea's house and we went straight to Foundation University High school to check out the playing fields, also known as the "Battle Grounds" for the weekend.
Though the fields are shorter than the standard Ultimate fields, the grass were greener, Lots of shades and trees to set up the hammocks, and it has a semi-private feel to it. It was a perfect venue for the first ever Trident Ultimate Battle Grounds. We have our very own Battle Arena for the weekend!
Trident Ultimate Battle Grounds is a Single gender Invitational National tournament spearheaded by the Father and Son tandem of Trident Active Lifestyle, Daddy and Dada Liboon. They did a tremendous job inviting the best teams in the country. Some decided to take on the challenge, and some decided to decline the offer and let the big boys and girls play, instead. After a successful TP training pool session on Friday, Let's fast forward to Saturday and Sunday for the Battles in Dumaguete.
Teams such as Iligan Warriors and Amazons (Open and Women), Binibining Pilipinas (Team Philippines), Fasa Fuego (Cebu Open), Bukindnon's Team Bagani (Open) and The Negros and Negras of Dumaguete, put on a great show. Giving the crowd the right amount of high flying, fast paced game plays all weekend long. For a photographer, it was a blessing and a curse. A blessing for you will capture and witness lots of amazing photos and game highlights from the best players of Visayas and Mindanao. And a curse for you will never capture them all.
Team Binibing Pilipinas did a great job on representing our flag at the Battle Grounds. Out numbered, but they never backed down from every battle and challenges that they face during the weekend. They managed to reach the finals, but fellow TP teammates Kyrah and April who played for Iligan Amazons are two monstrous mountains that are too tough to climb for the Binibinis.
Young players aging, 13-15 year old kids dominating the playing fields really caught my attention as well. I haven't seen a 13 year old girl play, like Anjelly. With great guidance, knowledge, and discipline, this kid will be a force to reckon with in the future.
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| 13 years old, Anjelly dominating the endzone |
On the other hand, the open division was as hot as the ball of fire the whole weekend. Fast paced, premium rush game plays. The highflyers like Botchok, Alod, Dada, and even the veteran/TP coach, Jude Lee was also up for the dogfight. But the match-up between Tajji and Jordan was definitely the highlight of all the highlights at the Battle Grounds. I've seen this match up in Malaybalay (Banuwa Ku Frisbee Tournament) last year, and Tajji won that exciting battle. But this time around, they were even. Jordan showed toughness in every sense of the word. See them going back and forth at each other during their semi-final game was a treat for the rest of the crowd. I myself, dropped my camera a couple of times, clapped my hands with a big smile on my face, appreciating how these two gladiators battle. It was one of those games that you know it will happen again in the future, but it will never be the same as intense and heart pounding as that game was. When you get a chance to witness this match up in the coming tournaments, better fill up your Nalgenes with your favorite poison and enjoy the show; for it will be another battle between these two.
The Open final game between Fasa Fuego and Iligan Warriors was definitely the best final game that I covered this early stage of the season. The powerhouse Iligan team led by Botchok, Alod, Chubby, and Dada was trailing early in the game, 5 to 1. But they managed to work their way up and brought the game to an exciting 15 minute long universe point. The crowd was so loud and uncontrollable, it was electrifying. In the end the Noel, Oyok, Chin, and Dan, Fasa Fuego led team went on to grab the trophy and has the right to call themselves the Champions of The Ultimate Battle Grounds this year.
Dada's goal for the Trident Ultimate Battle Grounds is to get together in a single gender tournament sharing new experiences and building a stronger bigger community. And I believe Dada, reached that goal. I think it is also the right time to see more single gender tournaments in the provinces. The games are intense. The emotions are higher. It's a great feeling when you call yourself a champion in Open or Womens division. It has a different sound to it.
Congratulations to Trident Active Lifestyle, most especially to Dada and Daddy for a very successful, well spirited event; and we hope to see bigger and stronger teams in the future, accepting the challenge of the Ultimate Battle Grounds in Dumaguete.
Until then. More images to share. More stories to tell... It's All About U!
See you in Boracay for the First ever Ultimate Apparel Open!
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