Nurturing a ‘family’ of champions

They practice in warehouses not intended for badminton using second-hand shuttlecocks. At first glance, they look just like average kids.

But they’re not ordinary kids. They’re part of the powerhouse Banilad Elementary School badminton team that has created waves in various national tournaments including the recent 3rd Milo Little Olympics National Finals.

The team, together with coaches Eddie Estoconing and Alma Flores, added the Milo crown to their vast collection including a rare three-peat in Linggayen, Pangasinan.

The Banilad Elementary School team also played an indispensable role in helping Team Visayas clinch the coveted Perpetual Trophy for winning three straight Milo National overall crowns.

Estoconing and Flores are full-time elementary teachers who decided to establish a grassroots badminton program in order to develop and produce elite badminton players that will represent Cebu City in regional and national tournaments.

The players this year include Ryan Jay Doromal, who was awarded “Most Outstanding Athlete” in Pangasinan, siblings Lyrden and Lovylle Laborte, James Ryan Navarette, Carl Bernard and Mychelle Dejasa, Katrina Garing and girls division MOA Trisha Merced Opon.

“After we tried it years back, we finally decided to take this seriously. And here we are right now, successfully established as one of Cebu’s best badminton grassroots programs,” said Estoconing.

TOUGH CHALLENGES

But despite their impressive achievements, Estoconing and Flores continue to face tough challenges.

Until today, the team still practices in large hardware warehouses in Mandaue City while they contact badminton trainers in local badminton courts to buy used shuttlecocks for their practice. Funds for the team’s necessities also come from their own wallet.

“It’s really hard for us to fund the team, but fortunately for us we still survived everything,” said Estoconing, who also supplies the team’s racquets.

“It is very rewarding to see my players win because of what we have taught them.”

Last summer, during the Philippine National Games (PNG), Banilad Elementary School bagged five gold medals while two came from Southwestern University (SWU). Those SWU players were also products of Estoconing.

Estoconing and Flores also believe that one secret to success is the strong bond in the team. They said they treat everyone in the team as family.

“We do everything we can to make them the best because what we want is for them to land in a good school when they reach high school and college,” said Flores.

Aside from Milo and the PNG, the Banilad badminton team has also conquered the Palarong Pambansa and the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association without much support.