MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos can soon watch countrymen playing tackle football on primetime TV as Arena Ball Philippines, Inc. partnered with the Asian TV Content (ATC) Sports and IBC-13 for a weekly program highlighting the exciting games of the Philippine Tackle Football League (PTFL).
Dubbed “ABP Touchdown Season I,” the 30-minute magazine lifestyle TV program will air beginning Oct 18 through Jan. 20 every Sunday at 7 p.m. on IBC-13. It will feature participating teams, coaching staff, players, game results, stats, interviews, and other interesting segments.
ABP executives said this TV deal is meant to expand and reach out to a wider audience base and grow the sport of American football.
“It’s been a long time coming. After six years, we’re finally here, we’re gonna be on TV now to share the sport we love to the rest of the country,” ABP chairman Apollo Angco said during Tuesday night’s press launch at the league’s new home, Skippy’s Bar and Grill in BGC.
Angco, ABP president Dodi Palma, and ATC Sports business consultant Gerry Ledonio, representing ATC president Eng. Reynaldo Sanchez, signed the memorandum of agreement formalizing their partnership. Players from the PTFL’s participating teams – Wolves, Bandits, Knights, Vanguards and Renegades – also graced the affair.
“Everybody will see that we do have some amazing athletes in this league and the level of competition is getting better and better. We’ll put on a good show,” said Mike Garcia of four-time champion Bandits.
“We can promise excitement in the games. Filipinos here are striving hard to play this game. And we worked hard to be competitive – that’s what we’ll give the televiewers. They can see that the teams are very, very aggressive and also the ‘can-do’ attitude of Filipinos is very evident,” said Dexter Sapitula of the Knights.
Proponents of tackle football expressed belief the highly physical game has a place in Phl.
“If Filipinos appreciate sports like boxing and appreciate the physicality, imagine the sports of the fighting Pinoys, 11 going against 11 in a true battle? That’s really exciting to watch,” said Angco.
Games are currently played Sundays at Philsports field.