crane

the whistle was blown, and the ref called in both teams. i sweat under the clouded sun, and feeling my heartbeat pumping within my chest. i am anxious to run and tackle my opponents flag and score by sack. finally, i was in the court, positioning my self on the defense line with my defense buddy, i came to realize that i wasm the smallest liner. my oponent was such a big dude. but when the game started, i learned my plus. i am small, he is big; but i am fast and he is slow… yet he is stronger. i gathered all my strength and planned a strategy to sack. "first down!" the ref called in. once again, i postioned my self; bending and touching the ground with my knuckles. my legs were restless as it were ready to lunge into my opponents QB. i heard the whistle blown again and took no time further… i sacked! score to my team. the rest of the game was filled with adrenaline pumping thru our systems. sweating in heat and energy we went on playing. joints cracking in every twist and turn and clashes, but that didnt matter, the goal is to score, and to score is our game! 1st match was over, and the score reads 60-22 to our favor! beat that!

2nd game came thru and in same goal, we played. not much of a challenge, we bagged down the opponent at 28-0. they were huge but they dont have a play. this is the match i got more pains. the huge QB broke into me as i was in full spead aiming for a sack. i ended up tumbling down three rolls on the ground. but then again. it didnt stop me from playing. thanx god i only got sore muscles from it.

3rd game was the best and the tightest. twas against the mighty team of a strong college, or so they thought. as tight as the match, we still scored 14-12, rising our revenge from 0-10 at the first half. victory was still ours.

4th match was the funniest. the opponent asked us to forfeit the game so at least they could make a mark on the score bored! hell no! that would loose the essence of the sportly competition. we aimed and worked hard to keep a clean winning streak, and they just came in to ask for such an out of this world record? we’re aint crazy enough to give in, and they ended up conceding from the match! 4th victory was litterally no sweat!

play-oofs came by and we were on the first seed. being on top of above else for having no records of loss, but all wins. we were alredi assured of the silver no matter what, but having the sense of competition, no athlete would simply settle for silver in pure confidence. we still aimed to bag the gold. sore muscles that we had, some joints cracking and aching in slight moves, and some players in injury, gold was still in the top mindset, not conceding not too confident but just plainly up for the goal! the goal to take the gold on the first ever Flag Foot Ball match in the history of SIGLAKAS - our intramural name for the university. but unanicipated, the opponent whom we’ve defeated on our third match gained enough strength and came up with a good defense against ours, we got nailed at 8-14. we had our first defeat, and that landed us on silver. it cant be helped but to be sad  and down after having oll the victory in the preliminaries and play-offs and just lost on the final match from an opponent whom we already defeated. but then again, a game is always like that, there are always loosers, and only one winner. we have accepted our defeat with whole hearts. but to us, we actually got defeated, it was still a triumph! a triumph from beeating all the opponents who are all undergraduates and have all the time in the world to practice and lay out a good game. while us? figure this our: just two practices prior to the match which only lasted 3hrs per session. not a sour graping but just a fact. to add, it was a victory, for upholding our true sense of sportsmanship for the spirit of great camaraderie. i will never be the same again with my views towards my physical capabilities. much more with my views towards life. Flag Foot Ball has taught me so many lessons in life to which i know u cant relate, and only me understands. life is a game, we should give our best inorder to win!

Team MEDICINE!!! (SIGLAKAS 2005, South Western University, Cebu City) Aug. 09-14, 2005