CebuFA over Dumaguete, 3-2

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FIRST FORAY: In his first action in the U17, Paolo Pascual conceded just two goals to help CebuFA win, 3-2 over hosts Dumaguete in the PFF U17 Regional Championships.
contributed photo by Joel Pascual

PLAYING together in a huge field for the first time, the Cebu Football Association adjusted in time for a 3-2 win over Dumaguete City in the Philippine Football Federation Under-17 Regional Championships at the Silliman University field in Dumaguete.

“The boys had a hard time because the field was huge and one of them suffered from muscle cramps,” coach Glen Ramos said.
Kyle Soriano, fresh from his stint in the Palarong Pambansa, put the visitors up front, 1-0, in the eighth minute before Dumaguete leveled the count 1-all at halftime.

“In the first half, the boys were still adjusting. In the second half, they played a little better,” Ramos said.

Soriano, who plays for Don Bosco Technological Center, again struck early in the second half as he put Cebu up, 2-1, in the 51st minute and Cebu International School striker Michael Sharpe added an insurance goal in the 65th for a 3-1 lead.

“The Dumaguete team has been preparing for the tournament and has played together for a long time. Half of them were in the Thirsty Cup U-17 champion, while our team was formed just a few weeks ago,” Ramos said.

As for goalkeeper Paolo Pascual, the youngest in the team at 14, Ramos said, “I will just give him advice not to be afraid, but he is doing well.”

The CebuFA selection is composed of players from CIS, DBTC, University of Southern Philippines, Springdale, Abellana National School and Sacred Heart School Jesuit. They will next play the dangerous Iloilo squad, the champion in the recent Palarong Pambansa.

“We saw them early this morning (yesterday), and they really are veterans. They have a strong build. We will have to hold our own so we can be the champion here,” Ramos said.

Ramos said the PFF told them that the top two teams will qualify to the national finals to be staged in the Visayas in August or October.

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