The original Askals

individual names hardly ring a bell despite their close to two decades domination of the on-andoff national and invitational leagues of the world’s most popular sport.

Over twenty of the Cinderellas’ trophies are rusting in my cubicle. They’re mementoes only to Peewee Agustin, Randall Dampac, Gabby Soriano, Petronio Dacoron, Dan David, Tino Tizon and a few others who used to drive them to playing venues if and when the fuel would warrant, then bring them home tired and triumphant.

The girls had missed out on some tournaments– not so much for the trophies but the joy and art of playing. Those were times they failed to find sponsored transport or collect and sell enough empty bottles and old newspapers for food and registration fees. Billeting had never been an issue. They slept in classrooms or were taken in to the houses of friends or rivals for the regular tournaments. They would travel midnight straight to the playing venues for the blitz, seven-a-side one-day tournaments, lugging water jugs and a few kilos of “adobo” (which doesn’t easily spoil) for breakfast, picnic lunch and supper then sleep the long drive back home – almost always with the championship trophy.

Blame this passion for soccer on Manny Javellana, a football fanatic and no-nonsense Brent School coach. In 1986, he knocked on schools and assembled high school and college girls that he trained into a most formidable team. Two years later, they began making a mark in national tournaments. Knowing they were ready for competition, he bade them goodbye and returned home to Bacolod.

In summer 1991, the girls pooled their stipends and hired a jeepney for the YKL-Fuji National