PH Punishers, Guam All Stars delight enthusiasts in football match

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Philippine Punishers and the Guam All Stars delighted hundreds of American football enthusiasts – basketball champion coach Vice Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao among them – in an action-packed debut match at the Challenger Field at the Air Force City in this Freeport Saturday afternoon.

The crowd cheered for the highly physical game that stirred once more the love for the “spectator sport” which the Miller Football League aimed to bring to the Philippines and Asia.

The debut match, including another which will fete the Punishers with the Hong Kong Cobras on May 5, is hosted by the Provincial Government of Pampanga led by Governor Lilia Pineda, Guiao, the Clark Development Corporation and the Philippine Air Force.

PAMPANGA. The PH Punishers and Guam All Stars hand over a symbolic American football helmet to Vice Governor Yeng Guiao for the Capitol’s support of the games held at Challenger Field-Clark. (Jovi T. De Leon)

Amid chants of “black and yellow,” the official colors of the newly formed Philippine Punishers, the Fil-Am-expats team tried to break the tough Guam All Star defense in the four matches. At halftime, the All Stars were leading 26-0.

But two successive touchdowns by Steve Smith near the end of the fourth quarter put the Punishers on the board, 32-12, as the offensive team overcame the fourth downs at the 20-yard line. Still, it wasn’t enough to topple the veteran All Stars as the whistle blew to end the exhibition match.

Guiao, who was handed a symbolic football helmet at halftime for the Provincial Government’s support, told the players that the Capitol was more than willing to support the clubs in their quest to raise awareness and rekindle the love for American football.

“The Provincial Government is always willing to support you in your desire to put American football in the map of Philippine sports. Judging from the outcome of today’s game and those who went here to watch the exhibition match, I think we could work more together to bring this to higher level of interests,” said Guiao.

The Punishers are expected to beef up their defensive and offensive strategies when they face the Hong Kong Cobras.