By Merv Moore
Head Baseball Coach
They say that “luck” is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. But if you’ve been following the birth of the Bohol Coconuts, you know that “luck” has very little to do with it. What you’re seeing is the result of 18-hour days, fueled by nothing but black coffee, a laptop, and a stubborn refusal to let this dream be anything less than world-class.
My clock starts long before the Texas sun hits the horizon. Between the Bohol Coconuts, the Founders Club, and Move2Bohol, I’m maintaining three distinct websites while managing the Tropical Island Relocation Club on Facebook. If I’m not answering an inquiry about moving to paradise, I’m on a high-stakes sponsorship call or a late-night investor meeting.
Why the 18-hour grind? Because I have a fundamental belief: Sustainability is the only path to success.
Building a Foundation, Not a Charity
I’ve seen too many youth programs fail because they relied on the “generosity of strangers.” That’s not the Coconuts way. We aren’t building a charity; we are building a self-sustaining ecosystem. Right now, we are in deep discussions with a major Japanese company regarding naming rights for our Coconuts Performance Center. Simultaneously, we are in talks with a Filipino-owned American apparel brand to become the official sponsor of our All-Star Program. These aren’t just logos on a jersey—they are the financial pillars that ensure our kids have the best coaching, the best gear, and a clear path to elite status without ever having to check if a donation check cleared the bank.
The Blueprint for a Baseball Island
The model is simple, but revolutionary: Combine a high-performance Youth Baseball Academy with an Eco-Lodge. The suites provide the revenue; the academy provides the talent.
Once our final three suites are sold and construction begins this June, the blueprint is set. But we aren’t stopping there. We are already scouting for our second academy in Loay for 2027, featuring luxury suites that will further expand our baseball and softball ecosystem. We want to develop elite teenage prospects across the entire island, and that requires a professional infrastructure that can be replicated.
Reality, Revenue, and the Field of Dreams
If you think the cameras following me around are just for show, think again. Our “Building the Coconuts” YouTube reality series is our global megaphone. It’s designed to generate the marketing reach and digital revenue we need to acquire more land for a dedicated baseball field. Every view, every like, and every subscriber is a brick in the stadium we are building for these kids.
Why We Do It
At the end of those 18 hours, when my eyes are blurry and the phone finally goes quiet, I think about the kids on Bohol.
I’ve always believed that sports are simply more fun when you’re enjoying success. Winning isn’t just about the scoreboard; it’s about the confidence that comes from professional training and elite resources. I’m putting in the hours now so that when these kids step onto the diamond, they aren’t just “playing ball”—they are competing at a level they never thought possible.
The grind is real, the days are long, and the stakes are high. But when the first shovel hits the dirt in June, every one of those 18-hour days will have been worth it.
We aren’t just building a club. We are building a future.
Are you ready to be one of the final three? Join the Founders Club and help us break ground this June.
