Mindanao quake victims show biggest heart in Batang Pinoy

Their houses were shaken; the streets in shambles.

- By REYNALD MAGALLON

THE PLAYERS trained for months before the pair of strong earthquakes struck their hometown early this October.

Even their lives upended.

The Davao "doublet" earthquake may have invoked fears and worries to many.

But not to the members of the Mati City Sepak Takraw team.

When the pair of powerful tremors jolted Davao Oriental on Oct. 10 - a 7.4 magnitude in the morning, followed by a 6.9 magnitude in the evening — the players thought their dreams of playing in the 2025 Batang Pinoy would crumble too.

But their will and determination stood firm.

Their participation in the premier grassroot event of the Philippine Sports Commission was never in question. Head coach Cris Vincent Olvida said the team never really considered backing out — a decision that would seemingly be easy for a team that isn't really expected to be among the top contenders and, for one, still feeling the crippling effects of the quake.