00:00Our guests via Zoom are Coach Emanuel Escote and the players Vince, Allison Torno and Jom Larirasael from the Philippine Sepak Takraw Federation.
00:09Good morning, gentlemen. Hello.
00:11Good morning. Happy Chinese New Year.
00:13Happy Chinese New Year.
00:15Happy Chinese New Year.
00:17Happy Chinese New Year.
00:20Let's start with the players, Sir Vince and Sir Jom.
00:25How did you join the Philippine Sepak Takraw?
00:32I'll go first.
00:33Okay.
00:34Sir Vince first.
00:37I joined the national team in 2019.
00:43I tried out and I was selected to join.
00:50Wow.
00:51Sir, were you really young when you decided to join the Sepak Takraw?
00:58Yes.
00:59I've been playing since 2013. I was in Grade 5.
01:05Wow. Grade 5.
01:07That's a long time. You were still young when you started.
01:09Yes.
01:10How did you join the Sepak Takraw? Who introduced you to the sport?
01:16When did you first watch him?
01:17Yes.
01:18You were attracted to play Sepak.
01:21I watched my cousin play in the regional meet.
01:30I was also attracted to play Sepak in Sepa Tingga.
01:39I learned how to play Sepak there.
01:42It was my dream to join the national team.
01:48I was lucky to join the national team.
01:54Wow. That's a beautiful journey.
01:57Sir Joe, how did you start playing Sepak?
02:03I joined the national team in 2022.
02:10I was scouted in tournaments.
02:16I was contacted by our head coach.
02:20I was sent to their school in Iris.
02:24I was asked if I wanted to join the national team.
02:29Sir Joe, were you just a kid when you started playing Sepak Takraw?
02:39Yes.
02:40I started playing Sepak Takraw when I was in Grade 6.
02:48They were just kids. They were timid.
02:51Elementary.
02:52Sir Vince said that it was like a game of tag.
02:55It was like a game of tag.
02:58That's how it started.
02:59Sepak is like that.
03:01It's like a game of tag.
03:05But when you play it as a sport, it's Sepak Takraw.
03:08But let's ask Sir Vince and Sir Joe.
03:12There are things that you always mention.
03:14I also watched a game of Sepak.
03:15It's not easy.
03:16It's considered as one of the hardest sports.
03:19As players, as national team members,
03:21what are the things that make it hard for you in Sepak?
03:23What qualities do you need to qualify as a national team member in Sepak Takraw?
03:28You go first, Sir Joe.
03:33For me, it's hard to play Sepak Takraw.
03:39Especially when you don't have knowledge.
03:41Your skills are zero.
03:44After a while, you'll get used to it.
03:47You'll master the skills that you need.
03:53You need to jump high and kick hard.
03:57Sir Vince, why do you think Sepak Takraw is one of the hardest sports?
04:03For me, I started playing Sepak Takraw when I was in elementary school.
04:15That's when I learned how to play Sepak Takraw.
04:22You can't learn how to play Sepak Takraw if you don't know the basics.
04:31You need to know the basics.
04:37It's hard to play Sepak Takraw because there are a lot of acrobatics.
04:44You just need to know the basics.
04:46It's really hard to play Sepak Takraw in the Philippines.
04:51We have a lot of teammates here.
04:54This is Coach Emmanuel.
04:56Hi, Coach. Good morning.
05:00Good morning.
05:02Coach, how was our performance this year?
05:09So far, we had a good run last year.
05:15We won all the medals in all the competitions abroad.
05:23In our last world championship in Malaysia, we won bronze in Rigu.
05:28Then, we participated in Taiwan and China.
05:33We also won double bronze in men's and women's.
05:39The runs were good because the athletes were kids.
05:46We saw that the future of Sepak Takraw in the Philippines is good.
05:53A lot of kids are excelling in the Philippines.
05:59Coach, we had tryouts last year.
06:02How was the turnout?
06:05You mentioned that we had a lot of podium finishes last year and this year.
06:12Yes, ma'am.
06:13In our tryout, our president, Ma'am Karen, is very strict.
06:20She doesn't want the national teams to relax.
06:24That's why we had a tryout last November or October.
06:30Some were eliminated from the national team.
06:33Then, some new players from Palarompang Bansama joined us.
06:40We have nothing to do.
06:44If you're defeated by the grassroots, we have to change.
06:57We don't tell them to relax.
07:04You're right, Coach.
07:06Ma'am Karen, the president of Sepak Takraw,
07:10is very committed to the sport of Sepak Takraw.
07:13This sport is strong here in the country.
07:16Coach, how is the challenge now?
07:19You mentioned that some members left and some were replaced.
07:26The challenge is, especially for those who were eliminated from the national team,
07:32we still encourage them to train properly.
07:38Hopefully, they'll be able to come back and compete.
07:43As for us, the coaches of the national team,
07:46our players in the national team,
07:49we tell them not to be defeated by those in the lower level.
07:58That's why you're here.
08:01You're the strongest in the Philippines.
08:04If you're defeated, it's up to you.
08:08You have to make your own book
08:16on how far you want to go in Sepak Takraw.
08:20If you want to go to the SEA Games, Asian Games, etc.
08:24That's our challenge to them.
08:27If they relax, they'll fight.
08:30That's how we are here in the Philippines.
08:34Coach Emanuel, you mentioned that the players in Sepak Takraw are of a high standard.
08:41But now, we're here with Sir Vince and Sir Johan.
08:44Coach, how is their performance in the national team?
08:48I'm proud of them.
08:51It's their first time winning a medal in the SEA Games in the history of Sepak Takraw,
08:57the last SEA Games in China.
08:59They're both there.
09:02They're very consistent.
09:06They're hard-working in training.
09:09They're disciplined.
09:10Especially John Leary.
09:12He's just started.
09:13We can already see his potential.
09:16He knows how to follow up.
09:19I'll ask the players,
09:21how is Coach Emanuel as a coach?
09:24Since the system here in the Philippines is like that,
09:27you're not sure about your position in the national team.
09:32Aren't you pressured to always perform well,
09:35to always be better?
09:36You need to always be good,
09:38to always be ahead,
09:40so that you can still be a part of the national team.
09:42How about you, Vince?
09:46For me,
09:48the way we train,
09:52and the way we play,
09:54sometimes the coaches ask us to read the game.
10:00If your game is good,
10:03just keep going.
10:04If it's not good,
10:06then try again.
10:10That's how it is for us.
10:13How about you, Sergio?
10:14How is your experience in the national team?
10:19My experience in the national team?
10:22It's overwhelming to be a part of the national team.
10:31My experience here in the Philippines is that
10:36it's hard to train,
10:38but in my dreams,
10:41I'm happier with what I do.
10:49It's different when you're passionate about what you're doing.
10:55Mekda is right.
10:57The Philippines, Sepak Takraw,
11:00is one of the most popular teams in Sepak Takraw.
11:03Not only here in the Philippines,
11:04but also in our region.
11:07In the last Asian Games,
11:09we won two bronze medals.
11:11Two bronze medals.
11:12They were part of that team.
11:13It's historical.
11:14It's a historical event.
11:16They were a part of it.
11:18Coach Emmanuel,
11:20what are the upcoming events this 2025?
11:26We're preparing for some events.
11:31In May, we have the Asian Cup in Malaysia.
11:35In July, we have the World Championship in Thailand.
11:39In December,
11:40we'll be participating in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
11:45Coach, what are we preparing for?
11:48We have a lot of tournaments lined up this year.
11:52Yes, ma'am.
11:54Our players are in schools.
11:57They're training.
11:59Most of them are in Iris,
12:02in Iloheo,
12:03among Rodriguez.
12:05Most of them are starting training this 2025.
12:12We haven't been able to go back to the Presidential Memorial
12:16because our venue is still empty.
12:21There you go.
12:22Ah, okay.
12:23Lastly,
12:24for us, Coach Emmanuel,
12:25and of course,
12:26for the players,
12:27Vince,
12:28and of course, John.
12:29John.
12:30A message to all the viewers
12:32who want to try Sepak Takraw
12:35and become a part of the national team someday.
12:37You go first, Coach.
12:39To all those who dream of becoming a part of the national team,
12:47just train properly.
12:51Just make your dreams come true.
12:54If you really want to,
12:55always remember that
12:57nothing comes easy.
12:59Everything comes with hardship.
13:01There you go.
13:02How about you, Sir Vince?
13:05For those who want to become a part of the national team,
13:10train hard.
13:12If there's an opportunity,
13:14grab it right away.
13:15Don't let it go.
13:17There you go.
13:18How about you, Sir John?
13:21For me,
13:22for those aspiring to become a part of the national team,
13:26just train hard.
13:29Your time will come.
13:31Just train hard
13:33and your time will come
13:35to become a part of the national team.
13:38There you go.
13:39Thank you so much, Coach.
13:41And to our players,
13:43what they shared was really inspiring.
13:46Because Sepak Takraw is really growing.
13:49A lot of people want to try it.
13:51We also have grassroots programs about it.
13:54So, thank you very much for inviting us.
13:56Thank you, Coach Emmanuel,
13:58and of course, the players.
13:59Thank you so much, Sir.
14:01Vince, always on tour.
14:03Good luck.
14:04Good luck in your tournaments.
