Whirl’d Cup 2019: A Better Blended, Indeed.
A Fresh cup of Island Strawberry, a slice of
Four-Cheese Pizza, and tons of Ultimate, All in one weekend. What else could
you ask for?
Now on its second year, JMJ Sports Training Services in
partnership with Jamba Juice and Yellow Cab created an Ultimate environment in
Alabang Country Club (ACC) that you will surely play your hearts out on the
field and will definitely enjoy the laid back and chill atmosphere off the
field, having a slice of your Yellow Cab Pepperoni Pizza and a sip of that ice
cold Tropical Mango from Jamba Juice while laughing the day away with your
friends and families. Though they were three teams shy from the number of teams
participated last year (27 teams this year), this year’s Whirl’d Cup still
feels like massive with a lot of side events happening all over ACC.
Whirl’d Cup was a last minute addition to my crazy May 2019 schedule. Though
I’ve been traveling for 5 straight weekends shooting Ultimate Frisbee all over
the country, I just can’t pass the opportunity to cover this tournament for the
first time. And hey, you can’t say no when they offer you free Jamba Juice, few
slices of Four-Cheese Pizza and Pasta.... and more Pizza.
Moving on!
It was a hot and
steamy Day 1. You can seriously feel the heat at the back of your neck making
its presence known that the great ball of fire will beat you and will make your
day miserable. But the ACC heat was nothing compared to Davao city a week
before Whirl’d Cup where I almost fainted at the command center.
Braving
the heat were the 27 teams coming from all parts of Manila all the way to
Tuguegarao, Pampanga, and Subic. It was always nice to shoot around this area because I rarely get a chance to shoot Ultimate in Luzon. They have a different
kind of play style up there, and It’s quite nice to witness and cover a
different pace.
The side events were also a pretty nice touch
where players compete in Huck Skills Challenge, Serpentine obstacle run and the
exciting Handler Skills event where it was like an NBA three-point
shootout/Skills Challenge combo. It was a lot of fun for a change!
One of the coolest thing during the Whirl’d
Cup weekend was the partnership between Jamba Juice and Philippine Ultimate
where a portion of the sales from the Jamba Juice Truck was given to Pilipinas
Ultimate National Teams to support them in their international tournament
campaign in Japan and China this coming June and July respectively.
During the final
round of the tournament (DAY 2) dark clouds rolling in covering the green
fields of Alabang Country Club, and moments later the skies poured a massive
rain showers where usually I have no problems with, but that time I decided to
go under the tents for a few minutes to save my gear and to keep myself dry. I
managed to get a few shots in, but luckily the rain died down and finally got
the chance to get back out again and be close to the action as possible just
right in time for the Pool A Finals.
The Pool A Finals
was played between the All-Time Seasoned veterans, For Old Time’s Sake
(FOTS) and Pool A mainstays, Team ALPHA. It was an exciting battle at the start
of the first few points of the game. Hucking, chasing and diving all because of
that white plastic saucer. Sky battles here and there, everyone’s not giving an
inch on the defensive line. It was quite a lot of fun. It was more fun for me
because to make it more challenging and exciting on my side, I tried to predict
who will score next. If I think FOTS will score the point, I walked and get
myself ready on the other end-zone. And If I predicted Alpha will tally a goal this
time around, I will make my way on the opposite end. And luckily, 85% of my
predictions were correct. So, I managed to capture some decent end-zone shots.
I guess you just need to do something to make
your work more interesting.
After a few exciting points
on Field Three, FOTS managed to break away in the later part of the game, and in the end, the seasoned veterans of Philippine Ultimate hoist their very first Whirl'd Cup.
For Old Time's Sake is your 2nd Whirl’d Cup Pool A Champions.
For Old Time's Sake is your 2nd Whirl’d Cup Pool A Champions.
It was definitely a
fun, relaxing weekend, blended with intense Ultimate matchups and Healthy
lifestyle. Big congratulations to JMJ and Jamba Juice for making that one
weekend in ACC a healthy, fun, and exciting two-day tournament.
It was without a doubt a Better Blended
weekend in Alabang.
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