THE Miller Football League was represented positively at the first-ever exhibition American football challenge in the Philippines on Saturday, April 28, against the Philippine Punishers. The MFL Guam All-Stars defeated their hometown challengers, 32-12.
Tim Beasley, head coach of the Philippine Punishers, was grateful to have the MFL players travel to Angeles City and play at the Clark Air Force Base football field. This exhibition match had hundreds of local spectators watching and cheering. This was an extraordinary opportunity for the Philippine players to play football with competitive players from Guam.
For Guam’s players, it was a great way to continue showcasing their love for football and competing with a team from another country.
Tropical Productions and the Miller Football League worked towards creating a football team to represent Guam. The Guam football team was comprised of the following current and past MFL players: EJ Calvo, JP Calvo, Will Williams, Zebadiah Howser, Robert Leon Guerrero, Ray Mangosong, Frank Arriola II, Monte Heuton, Gavin West, TC Mix, Jesse “Pumpy” Manglona, and James Pike. They were coached by Cars Plus Rams Head coach Frank Arriola.
The Guam All-Stars played both ways for most of the game, scoring three offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns. The Punishers were made up of 40-plus players who were American and European expats, Filipino-Americans, and locals learning the game.
The Punishers are part of the American Football Federation, a league with four teams that compete regularly each year. The Miller Football League and the American Football Federation of the Philippines envisions the exhibition match to potentially be one of many to come in future years.
MFL President EJ Calvo said, “We are invited in the Philippine league, as well as other teams from Honk Kong, Japan, and Korea, to play games throughout the year during the MFL off-season games.”
(Information obtained from a press release.)
