Sepak Takraw found its way to Faith Adventist Academy (FAA), a small Adventist school in the far north of Palawan, in 2011. At that time, the school had very few extracurricular activities to engage its students—especially those struggling to find direction.
Sepak Takraw, a Southeast Asian sport, is similar to volleyball but played with a rattan ball, using the feet, head, chest, and knees to send the ball over the net. It demands agility, coordination, and incredible skill.
At FAA, however, the goal was not merely athletic achievement—it was redemption. The sport was introduced to reach boys on probation—those on the brink of expulsion, labeled as troublemakers, and given one last chance. These were the bold and strong-willed students, the ones who never backed down and seemed afraid of nothing.
To make the program effective, they needed someone who truly knew the game. Providentially, FAA Principal Julius Rosas had a brother—Webster Rosas—who was once a national Sepak Takraw player. With Webster as coach and Julius as spiritual mentor, the team was blessed with both technical expertise and strong spiritual leadership.
From Modest Beginnings to Breakthrough
By 2012, the team began participating in provincial meets, though early results were modest—never rising above 4th place. But in 2015, a breakthrough came. FAA won the provincial championship, went on to dominate the MIMAROPA (an acronym for the Philippine provinces of Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) Regional Athletic Association (MRAA) meet, and advanced to the prestigious Palarong Pambansa (National Games), bringing home the bronze medal.
Two years later, in 2017, the team again qualified for the regional meet. This time, however, the schedule fell on a Saturday. Principal Rosas stood firm. “We won’t participate if it means playing on Sabbath,” he told the organizers. He explained the school’s commitment to the seventh-day Sabbath and spoke about religious freedom.
For two long hours, the team stayed in their quarters. No one left. Instead, they sang, prayed, and trusted God. At last, the organizers announced their decision—the games would be rescheduled to Sunday. That entire day, FAA played with courage and faith, finishing undefeated.
To their surprise and joy, the tournament manager turned out to be a fellow Adventist. FAA not only secured a new schedule, they also gained the respect of the Department of Education (DepEd) for standing true to their convictions.
Over the years, FAA’s team continued to make its mark—provincial wins, regional advances, and notable finishes at the national level. In one memorable Palarong Pambansa, they secured another bronze medal and, more importantly, gained a reputation—not just as athletes, but as the MIMAROPA Prayer Warriors.
Faith First, Always
The pandemic brought a pause to their journey. When they returned to the court in 2023, they lost. But in 2024, they came back stronger—winning both the provincial and regional titles and once again qualifying for the Palarong Pambansa. Yet again, their game was scheduled on a Sabbath.
Coach Webster wrestled in prayer. “Lord, why bring us this far, why allow us to win, only to sit out the match?”
In another act of providence, the game was moved from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. At 6:30 PM, the players arrived at the venue. The tournament manager reminded them, “The sun has not fully set yet.” They waited. At exactly 7:00 PM—after sunset—the game began.
It was one of their best games yet. The players were well-rested and played with heart. Though they did not claim the championship, they knew they had already won—because they stood for their faith and represented Jesus with honor before the watching world.
In 2025, the MIMAROPA Prayer Warriors once again competed in the Palarong Pambansa, held in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. This time, they won gold in the Best Regu category.
Victories Beyond the Court
But perhaps the greater victories happened off the court. Many of the once-troubled students experienced real transformation. Some graduated with degrees in criminology and are now serving as police officers. One of them, Felix Achera, has become an active youth leader at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brooke’s Point. Seven former team members have publicly accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Take, for example, Japhet Tejares from the 2017 Palarong Pambansa team. Today, he is a licensed marine engineer and serves as the SK chairman in their barangay in Taytay. He also mentors younger players whenever he visits the school. His story, however, was not without struggles. Japhet was sent home in Grade 10 because of misbehavior, peer conflicts, and personal battles. But when he returned in Grade 11, his life began to change. Before graduating, he accepted Jesus through baptism—and eventually, his whole family followed. Just this year, even his nephews, who are now Sepak Takraw players, were baptized as well.
They were never forced into faith. The team became a care group—a spiritual family led by mentors who genuinely cared. The boys began reading the Bible—first because they were told to, and eventually because it became part of who they were.
In every match—win or lose—they knelt in prayer together. And so, they did not just earn the title MIMAROPA Prayer Warriors—they lived it.
Continuing the Mission
This coming October 25–28, the MIMAROPA Prayer Warriors will once again represent FAA in the Philippine Youth Games (Batang Pinoy), a multi-sport national championship organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Faith Adventist Academy (FAA) is a small Adventist school operated by lay members in Taytay, Palawan. Upholding the Adventist philosophy of education, FAA seeks not only to educate minds but also to shape hearts for Christ—offering holistic, values-based education grounded in faith, service, and Christlike excellence. For more information about Faith Adventist Academy, you can visit their social media page.
The original version of the article was published in the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission.