Fund lack bars Cebu team from London frisbee event

COMMITTED. The FASA Fuego Frisbee team (from left,standing) Don Mariano Alajas; Ian Telebanico; Glysil Sugar Perez; Team Spokesperson, Earvin Romeo Pasamula; Michael Subang; Marvin Subang; Francis Villarico; Jan Carlo Baring; (Girls—from left) Kim Soon; Hannah Librando and Apple Marie Tabasa.
(CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

They collected trash and slept on push carts as they chased their dream of competing in the world frisbee championship in London.

But the funds they raised were not enough for their jerseys, shoes and fare to London.

The 25-member Frisbee Atbang sa Abellana (FASA Fuego) were not able to join their Manila counterparts to compete in the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) 2015 World Under-23 Ultimate Championships  in London last July 13 to 17.

Ultimate frisbee is one of the fastest growing non-contact team sports in the world.

It mixes the best features of soccer, basketball, American football and netball.

FASA Fuego is the only team that remained of 8 frisbee teams formed in Cebu City.

Passion
The team is qualified to join the WFDF, having won the 2012 Sangyaw Ultimate  in Tacloban City.

They landed 7th place in the First Ultimate Nationals held in Manila that year and also topped the CEBOOM 2013 event held in Cebu, among other accolades.

WATCH: FASA FUEGO in Abellana

While Philippine frisbee team players from Manila can afford the jerseys, shoes and fare to London, the FASA Fuego team aren’t well off.

Twenty-two-year-old Michael Subang and his 25-year-old brother Marvin work as waiters at a fast food chain.

Anne Camille Soon is a 17-year-old badminton varsity player of a local university but her parents don’t support her passion for frisbee.

Funds
“We had to collect garbage to be able to raise funds for our jerseys and shoes when we competed in the First Ultimate Nationals 2012 held in Manila.

We only got to the 7th place out of 16 teams who competed,” team member Apple Mae Tabasa said.

They collected and sold recycled materials, asked help from parents of other team members and their neighbors to raise P50,000.

They used the amount to buy uniforms, transportation and lodging in Manila.

FASA Fuego team walked from Binondo to Tondo.(CONTRIBUTED)

On the last day of the tournament, the team had to walk from Binondo to Tondo to look for a cheaper lodging house.

Not finding any, they went straight to Pier 11 in Manila and slept on push carts while waiting for their return trip to Cebu.

The story of their plight got the attention of Edward Hayco, head of the Cebu City Sports Commission.

“We would like to sit and talk to them since their passion and dedication is intense. We would also like to explore and work together with them since we support grassroots sports,” Hayco said.

But for now, the team could only listen to reports about Team Philippines competing against South Africa in a tight match.

The team also plays host to the 2nd Cebu Ultimate Club Championships on July 25 at the Minglanilla Oval and on June 26 in Bulacao, Talisay City from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m./Multi-media Assistant Grace II P. Pecaoco