Football Philippines

[gun-ob]

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PFF confident RP will top ASEAN qualifying
Sat Jul 29, 2006



PHILIPPINE FOOTBALL Federation (PFF) President Johnny Romualdez said the national football team has a chance to rule the qualifying round of the ASEAN Football Championship on November 12-20 in Bacolod City.


"Win it in Bacolod," was the message he spelled out to coach Aris Caslib.

A set of matches by the RP XI in the Asian Football Confederation’s Challenge Cup last April in Bangladesh may be the reason for his optimism.

The Philippines lost only to Chinese-Taipei in the group matches, 0-1.

Ranked No. 192 in the world, the Filipino booters drew with Afghanistan (No. 173), 1-1, and India (No.130), 1-1.

The Philippines placed third in the group, not bad for a team that played without key players James and Phil Younghusband, Chris Greatwich, Anton del Rosario and Dan ‘The Bull’ Padernal.

Under Caslib, the Philippines won for the first time since 1996 in the last Tiger Cup two years ago, a 2-1 victory over Timor Leste.

The other participants in the qualifying round at the Panaad Stadium are Brunei (No. 17, Laos (No. 182), Cambodia (No. 183) and unrated Timor Leste.

The top two placers in this event will join defending champion Singapore (No. 111), Thailand (No. 113), Vietnam (No. 141), Malaysia (No. 146) and Myanmar (No. 163) in the championship round in either Thailand or Singapore in mid-January.

The qualifying round of the ASEAN Football Championship is a joint venture of the PFF and the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) headed by Representative Charlie Cojuangco.

[gun-ob]

Hopefully we will top the qualifying matches so we can join the ASEAN Football Championship this time.

[garyg]

I wonder whats their drafting process for Philippine players. I've not heard of any Cebu players being drafted, is there? I mean what's the best way of tapping the best players in all Philippines. Is there any formal tournaments countrywide, province by province?

[BaiLeY]

As far as I know, murag wala pa.. Except for the tournaments & friendlies that are being organized --- local lang most of the time. Mayta naa nindot na tournament na makaapil ang kadaghanan, makarepresent sa ilang mga city/ province & so that the talents will be seen gyud & daghan mapilian.

[gun-ob]

Bright's turn to shine

The football gods looked over perennial champions Paref-Springdale yesterday and picked out a new favorite, Bright Academy.

The young upstart, which entered the local football scene last year, plucked out two titles in the 2nd San Roque Football Fiesta yesterday, both against Paref Springdale.

“This is really not our day,” said one Paref Springdale mother, after watching Springdale’s third loss in a finals match yesterday.

Bright’s Under-17 team, coached by Restiuto “Totot” Colina and Dennis Peñalosa, bagged the day’s first title impressively, beating the heavily favored Springdale team led by veteran keeper Paolo Pascual.

Justin Lee sent a perfect free kick past Pascual, who played for Cebu in the Philippine Football Federation’s Men’s Under-17 Regional tournament for the stirring upset.

“In fairness to Springdale, they were on the offensive most of the time,” said Bright assistant principal Neil Montesclaros.
Lee’s shot earned him MVP honors and the first title for the team in the tough division, softened by the absence of other powers Cebu International School and Don Bosco Technological Center.

Other members of the team are Gino Galicia, Lorenz Recera, Don Tirol, Dondi Gonzales, Mikel Torralba, Kevin Velasco, Arion Marin, Michael Pages, Chad Ting, Pervin and Royce Tan.

On the other hand, their young Under-12 squad also fashioned a similar upset win as they took Springdale by surprise in a 1-0 win.

Ball movement

The narrow scoreline belied the dominance of Springdale, which showed excellent ball movement and individual skills against Bright.

Martin Mendoza’s free kick got staved off by Bright’s Raj Aran, who also pulled out a save in their 2-0 win in the semifinal round, while Shawn Hausen’s shot hit the post.

Springdale kept on pushing but their two other clear attempts again kissed the bar, adding to the frustration of the players.

With their players upfront, Springdale kept their defense vulnerable and Bright’s lone offensive attack brought back dividends.

Junichi Kuribayashi found a streaking Robert Lee, who in turn sent the ball to the top corner, for the lone goal of the match.

Springdale tried to bounce back but the referee blew his whistle, capping the mad celebration for Bright.

Just like his brother Justin, Robert also bagged the MVP award, while the team also won the Honda Sportsmanship award.
Other members of the Bright team are Junichi Kuribayashi, Raj Arana, Kenji Mizuguchi, Patrick Snare, Rafaet Pochet, Rainier Tan and Gian Astilla.

Meanwhile, the Hiroshi Football Club also defeated Springdale in the Boys 14 finals via a shoot-out, with keeper Julius Haganas earning MVP honors.

Host San Roque FC also bagged the the Girls 12 Under crown, after sweeping its three matches against Bright Academy.

Finay day

San Roque hacked out a close, 1-0, win in the first match but wiped out Bright, 3-0, in their last two matches to win the crown.

The annual football fiesta will cap off today with competitions in the Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s 36-above and the Players’ 8 divisions.

[gun-ob]

CIS, Springdale return to form in Mizuno Cup

After last week’s upset-ridden San Roque Football Fiesta, football powers Cebu International School (CIS) and Paref-Springdale stamped their authority in the first day of the Mizuno Football Cup with one title each.

CIS, playing in its first tournament since its school year started three weeks ago, took control of the Girls U17 division, beating last week’s champion, Pabol FC, 1-0.

On the other hand, Springdale, which lost in three finals last week, bagged the P10 division after a stirring win over Pepito FC, 2-1, via a shootout.

Final results in the other division of the Mizuno Cup, which attracted a record 136 teams, were still unavailable at press time last night.

It was a reunion of sorts in the Girls Under17 finals as the two teams—Pabol and CIS—each had players in the Cebu team that saw action in last summer’s Philippine Football Federation National Girls 17 finals.

Defensive

After an impressive elimination round for Pabol, which won all its five matches without conceding a single goal, the team started defensively as CIS’ Gabi Mercado and Gabi Aboitiz took control of the offensive end.

Other members of the team are Stephanie Sharpe, Gab Mercado, Czarina Bruce, Joanita Romualdez, Janive Negrosa, Crystell Dychengco, Nicole Hauser, Janica Wannamacher and Presley Cunningham.

The young Aboitiz, one of the national under-17 veterans, sent a haymaker from half-court that slipped past keeper Julienne Canoy for the lone goal of the match.

Meanwhile, Springdale’s Antonio Eduardo Rafols and Kevin Delantes put on an impressive show in shootout.
Rafols stopped all but one of the Pepito keepers, while Delantes also pulled four saves.

After conceding a goal to the third Pepito kicker, Rafols showed quick reflexes as he saved the next four kickers of Pepito, while Jose Rafael Lipardo converted his final shot for Springdale’s stirring win.

“Malas,” was all Pepito coach Luis Arriesgado could say after the match.

Other members of the Springdale team are Pericles Dakay, Lorenzo Ugarte, Mario Lorenzo Ceniza and Donn Ijo Alvaro Clarito.

[garyg]

I wonder why 11 v 11 is not popular anymore in Cebu. Organizers of tournaments should focus on this kind of setup because by international standard if we want to compete with other countries then we should play according to international rules. 7 v 7 usually does't make good players specially if you let them play for only 15 minutes which the fiesta type of event is usually doing. 15 minutes is only warm up in football.

[garyg]

Does anybody knows of a comming 11 v 11 tournament in Cebu?

[garyg]

Does anybody knows of a comming 11 v 11 tournament in Cebu?

up

[raul julia]

Aboitiz Cup is 11 aside......Although there will be 7 aside footbal fiesta coming up in Sept. 23 also sponsored by Aboitiz.....