Pages Holdings Inc. Chairman and CEO Bunny Pages (second from left) is joined by (from left) Thirsty Football Cup organizer Neil Montesclaros, Thirsty Juices and Shakes general manager John Pages and co-organizer Yggy Luza during the press conference for the 15th Thirsty Football Cup.
CDN PHOTO/Glendale G. Rosal
Thirsty Football Cup gets bigger on 15th year, to feature 93 visiting teams
After the first year of the Thirsty Football Cup in 2004, organizers weren’t that optimistic about being able continue for another year.
In fact, they only gave themselves a year. Just one edition, and they thought that was it.
Fast forward 15 years later, the Thirsty Cup remains alive and kicking. In fact, it is kicking itself to new heights this year, according to the organizers who were present during a press conference on Tuesday at the Shaka Hawaiian Restaurant at the Cebu IT Park.
“It [makes] us proud to think that we lasted for 15 years. We had thought of having it for one time during our first year but it grew a lot over the years,” said organizer Neil Montesclaros.
During the press conference, organizers revealed that the annual tournament has a record number of visiting teams this year.
There will now be 93 teams from outside Cebu competing in the tournament that starts this Friday at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
In total, there will be 234 teams vying for titles in 14 age groups.
“For me, it is quite emotional that we lasted for 15 years. And [we are] getting stronger over the years,” said Pages Holdings Inc. Chairman and CEO Bunny Pages.
According to the noted Cebuano businessman, credit should also be given to his sons, Charlie and John, too.
“Charlie (Pages) and John started this,” added the elder Pages.
John, the general manager of Thirsty Juices and Shakes, was also present during the press launching.
Bunny said the highlight of this year’s tournament is the 93 visiting teams. These will be those teams from Samar, Iligan, Tacloban, Cabalian, Southern Leyte, Ormoc, Baybay, Masbate, Bacolod, San Carlos, Carcar, Panglao, Tagbilaran, Ilo-ilo, Maasin, Gingoog, Cagayan de Oro, Himamaylan, Butuan, Dumaguete, Barotac Nuevo, Roxas, and Capiz.
Going international
According to John Pages, there will be a total of 3,150 players who will be converging at the CCSC for the three-day tournament.
As successful as the tournament is presently, organizers are not about to rest on their laurels.
Their next goal is to reach the international level. They want to invite young football teams from Hong Kong, Singapore, and other neighboring countries to join the tournament.
The age groups that will begin this Friday are the boys-under 19, mixed open and the 38-above men’s category. The rest will be held on Saturday and Sunday.