Cebu Football

Mad Dogs hacked out a 5-2 victory via penalty shootout over Hankyu FC to grab the 1st San Roque Summer Football League title yesterday at the San Roque football field.

Both teams figured out in a 1-1 draw in regulation, behind the penalty goals of Joshua Fegidero of Mad Dogs and Hankyu’s Rene Inoc.

In the shoot-out, Eleazar Toledo, who was named as the best scorer in the tournament sneaked in Mad Dog’s first goal while Hayato Ayabe, Mitsu Tsinukuri, and Raunil Colina added more to nail the title.

Inoc scored the lone goal for Hankyu in the shootout after goalkeeper Jesus Singson saved two of the missed attempts.

Mad Dogs also got the most number of awards including the MVP that went to Fegidero, Tsinukuri as best midfield and Albert Nangkil as best defender.

St. Peter’s Square, on the other hand, finished third after beating Don Bosco FC via penalty shoot-out.

St. Peter’s Lemar Baunsit bagged the best striker while Oscar Lemence won the best goalkeeper.

The tournament which is sanctioned by Cebu Football Association was being sponsored by Cebu International School parents, Cathy Darza, Dynamic Casting, Daniela Cases, Mr. and Mrs. Moraza, Chique Miguel and Debbie Go.
(Story by Sona Mae Povadora of The Freeman)

this


plus this makes volleyball interesting


Sun*Star Photos by Arni Aclao

There are no updates regarding the football scene for now and the photo below is the reason: Six foot tall, blonde Elisha Galic (the one trying a block) from Australia who is playing at the 5th Asian Under 18 Girls Volleyball Championships. And there are nine teams, with pretty girls in each.

I might just decide to put up a volleyball blog!

hmm


Too bad they are Under 18

THE THREE on the job. Mike's hung over again

SINCE there is no football news, lately, it’s time we put the limelight on the other people who makes football interesting in Cebu.

Us.

Mike T Limpag. Sun*Star Cebu.
Sona of The Freeman
Marian of Cebu Daily News.

Sona is a 2003 Mass Communications graduate from St Theresa’s College, while Marian finished her degree, in 2002.

Mike? He graduated from the University of San Carlos with an AB Sociology degree (don’t ask why) just this year, 2005, (again don’t ask why)

Sona and Marian are reluctant football writers, but have grown to love watching the game. At first, they were confused with the rules regarding fouls and offside, but have acquired a little amount of understanding of the game. (Given that they have poor tutor who is often hungover)

Here’s how the usual coverage goes.

Mike shows up first, goes to the table, and becomes a usual nuisance to the refs, and gets back to the sidelines.

Sona comes up next and asks, “Asa si marian? Hubog napud ka?”

Marian shows up and asks “unsa score?, hubog napud ka?”, then the three catches up with the game. Sometimes, Marian shows up with food for us. Sona phone rings, and she goes autistic.

“Ngano man to?” Marian asks if someone is called offside. Or sona would say, "ay, ngano di man pwede?"

Or if THE TEAM WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED are around, all three will say, “Asshole alert! asshole alert!”

Or if THE PLAYERWHOMUSTNOTBENAMED shows up with his usual antics, Mike says, “tani mudaybdayb para lingaw ato storya”

Or if THE TEAM WHO MUST NOT BENAMED are playing in the finals, they all root for the opponent.

TOUGH ACTION: Action in the San Roque is tough, as this photo by Sun*Star ace lensman Amper Campaña shows.

JOSHUA Fegidero is dangerous, he needs to be marked all the time. Jan Michael Abellana is dangerous, he's a wily player.

Don Bosco Alumni FC failed to heed such lessons as they lost a tough 4-3 semi final match against the Mad Dogs FC in the San Roque Summer Football Tournament last Sunday at the San Roque Parish.

The mad dogs, culled from a selection of young kids at the Cebu International School and veteran San Roque habitues like Eleazar Toledo will next face Hankyu FC, who survived a shoot out win over host San Roque FC.

The transplanted Bacolod player Fegidero struck first in the third minute while Hayato Ayabe doubled the lead in the 10th for an early 2-0 Mad Dogs advantage.

Crio Sarchez pulled DB to within one in the 30th for a 2-1 count at the turn.

Then things turned around for the bosconians.

In a two minute span, Warlo Sabella and Ramie Martin turned the 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 advantage as they struck in the 65th and 67th minute while holding their ground against the Mad Dogs offense.

They forgot about the guy from Bacolod. With five minutes left in the match, Fegidero found his mark to level the match and Abellana drove in the clincher in the 87th as the shocked Bosconians settled for a loss.

Meanwhile, after a scoreless regulation, Rene Inoc, Ronnie Agulo, Ranulfo Colina, Limar Baunsit and Niño Zapanta converted their spot kicks for Hankyu FC’s win.

They will face off with Mad Dogs in the finals on May 29 still at the San Roque field.

WHERE's the grass? The dying if not dead Cebu City Sports Center football field played host to yesterday's 1st HFC U12 football festival.(pasensya na, wa nakoy laing photo sa Abellana - mike)

KIDS in yesterday’s 1st Hiroshi FC U12 Football Festival at the Cebu City Sports Center showed Harou Iwanaga did the right thing in organizing the one day tourney.

Six teams showed up and played under the menacing heat of the summer sun, and continued until they were drenched in a sudden rainfall during the finals match between Futbolitos A and Cardex A, with the Futbolitos of Luis Arriesgado winning it easily 6-0.

“Boss Harou saw them practice with us daily, and was told that they have no more tournaments, so he decided to put up one,” HFC coach Francis Ramirez said.

On the other hand, the one day festival also showed the emerging gap between football generations as the new kids are picking up the game much earlier.

“They are playing well at this age, I can’t even kick a ball at their age,” HFC keeper and former National U17 team mainstay Frederick Alazas said at the sidelines.

In the finals, tournament best striker Carlito Abadia put the Futbolitos up front in the fourth from a free kick before Jayson Formanes did something to impress the audience.

Running with his back on the ball, the diminutive Formanes one timed the shot off a goal’s kick in a half-turn. Though he missed, his attempt was well applauded.

“Did you see that? He really knows what he’s doing,” veteran coach Eddie Buot said.

The Futbolitos again scored in the final minute of the half to take a 2-0 lead.

In the second Jovan Bacus scored twice while Pedro and John Diao added one a piece to complete their win.

Bacus was also awarded the MVP while Cardex keeper Dan Marnel Villarico was named the best keeper and Joeford Dolino of the Futbolitos earned the Best Defender award.

CEBU IN FINALS: The Cebu FA U17 is in the national finals. Will they win it all? Or will it be just like the U19, where they lost a disappointing finals match.
Sun*Star photo Ruel Rusillo

DESPITE a 7-0 beating from powerhouse Iloilo, the Cebu Football Association Under-17 squad landed in the top two to qualify to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) U-17 National Championships later this year.

In its opening game, the CebuFA selection defeated host Dumaguete, 3-2, before that fateful encounter with Iloilo.

Iloilo then dealt the hosts a 4-0 defeat to finish first in the Visayas Regional Championships, held last May 18-20.

Only three teams joined the regionals, after Bacolod failed to field a team in the event organized in lieu of the Coke Go-For-Goal U-16 National Championships, which was scrapped last year due to financial reasons.

Though they are already in the finals, the CebuFA selection is still not sure whether there will be a national finals at all.

“During the managers meeting, we were told that there will be a national tournament later this year and this will be held in the Visayas if there are any bids for it,” CebuFA coach Glen Ramos said.

Whether their will be a nationals or not, CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo said the team will be kept intact as they are being groomed to play in other age-group tournaments in the following years.

The team includes Jose Paolo Pascual, Roy Joseph Sembrano and Benedict Luis Arriola of Paref-Springdale, Josephus Bernaldez, James Candido, Ric Ryan Fuentes and Don Francois Noel of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J), Jose Jordan Diao, Jessie Roy Melgo II and Howard Dwight Docino of Abellana National School.

Also in the team are Pomposo Atillo, Gene Manuel Gacayan III, Kyle Vincent Soriano of Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC), Michael Sharpe of Cebu International School (CIS) and Jonathan Tan of the University of Southern Philippines.

SHOCKED: The 7-0 beating from Ilo-ilo was shock to veteran mentor, Glen Ramos.
Contributed photo by Joel Pascual

A day after embarrassing host Dumaguete, the Cebu Football Association selection got its own dose of humiliation in the second playdate of the Philippine Football Federation Boys U-17 Regional Champion-ships at the Silliman University ball field in Dumaguete City.

The Cebuano booters were at the receiving end of Iloilo City’s fury, 0-7, a defeat that has left them with a lot of things to ponder.

The CebuFA players now hope and pray that Dumaguete will lose to Iloilo City this morrning so that they will clinch the second and last berth into the national finals scheduled to be held in Visayas either in August or October.

“This is the first time in my career that the team I am coaching was dumped without scoring a goal. Admittedly, the Iloilo players are more experienced compared to my boys, but the outcome really caught me by surprise to the point that I want to quit from coaching.,” said CebuFA mentor Glenn Ramos.

One key factors of the rout was the Ilongo booters’ cohesiveness gleaned on their experience playing together since they were still campaigning in 12-under competitions.

The Ilongos were trained under one roof at the Iloilo Football Center for a couple of years now and that strategy worked effectively as they now rose into a formidable football power in the country.

Testament to that, Iloilo City topped the football competition in the recently-concluded 2005 Palarong Pambansa held at its turf via a clean sweep.
(story by Sona Mae Povadora of The Freeman)

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.

CEBU FA Selection: The best of Cebu with coaches Vincent and Glen Ramos.


TUTORIAL: Former national team mainstay Glen Ramos gives out pointers to the CebuFA U17 selection. They are currently in Dumaguete City for the PFF U17 Regional Championships


YOUNGEST: Teammates watch Paolo Pascual in practice, at 14, Pascual is the youngest member of the team manning the most dangerous position, goal keeper.

Contributed photos by Joel Pascual

SHARP SHARPE: Michael Sharpe (16) joins 14 other Cebuano in the CebuFA U17 squad set to see action in Dumaguete for the PFF U17 Regional Championships. Sharpe scored two goals for Cebu's runner up finish in the National U19 last year.
Sun*Star Photo by Ruel Rusillo

TEN years after steering Cebu City to the National Under-16 title, Glen Ramos guides a select group of footballers to the Philippine Football Federation U-17 Regional Championships in Dumaguete City.

The 15 boys, culled from six rival schools, will put up a united front when they go up against the region’s best, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Bacolod in the four day tournanment.

The U-17 tournament was put up by the PFF since last year’s U-16 competition was cancelled after corporate backer Coca-Cola backed out. In 1995, Ramos steered his wards from Don Bosco Boys Home to the national title.

Those who made it to the team after a series of tryouts are Jose Paolo Pascual, Roy Joseph Sembrano and Benedict Luis Arriola of Springdale, Josephus Bernaldez, James Candido, Ric Ryan Fuentes, and Don Francois Noel of Sacred Heart School Jesuit, Jose Jordan Diao, Jessie Roy Melgo II, Howard Dwight Docino of Abellana National School.

Also with the team are Pomposo D Atillo, Gene Manuel Gacayan III, Kyle Vincent Soriano of Don Bosco Technological Center, Michael Sharpe of Cebu International School and Jonathan Tan of the University of Southern Philippines.

“The team from DBBH (national Coke Go-for-Goal champion) jelled since they played together for a long time, this team was formed only a few weeks ago, but they are more skillful,” Ramos said during an interview at the SHS-J field in Ayala.

“I have 100 percent trust in the team,” his brother Vincent said.

Though they are new as a team, all players in the squad have played in various regionals and knows what it feels to face the other provinces.

“We can compete, because most of us have experience, and we have one who just played in the Palarong Pambansa,” said Docino, the team’s designated captain.

On the other hand, though he is the youngest in the team at 14, Pascual, the lone goalkeeper of the squad also played in Iloilo during the Philippine Football Fiesta, while Sharpe has played in national and international tournaments and scored two goals during last year’s Adidas U-19 championship.

They leave for Dumaguete today in time for the opening on the 18th.

Meanwhile, Palaro veteran Soriano said that most players of the Iloilo team are from the national U-17 team.

“They are very quick and very fast,” he said

"MOMMY" STRIKE: Queen City United striker Rhodora "Mommy" Toledo pulls a shot in thier finals match against CMOFA last May 15. After a 1-1 draw, QCU keeper Iris Meca stopped the final kicker in the shootout for their 6-5 win.
Sun.Star Photo by Arni Aclao



IRIS Meca and Junard Aguilar supplied the heroics yesterday as Queen City United and Hiroshi Football Club copped the Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament’s Men and Women's Open titles, respectively, in contrasting fashions at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center.

QCU had to go through extra time and a shootout before beating Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental Football Association (Cmofa), 6-5, while Hiroshi overcame an endgame onslaught by Don Bosco Alumni Football Club (DBAFC), 2-1.

It was a double victory for Hiroshi as its 38-Above squad also took the title with a gritty 1-0 win over QCU earlier, courtesy of Eddie Buot's goal.

"They left Eddie alone because he wouldn't run, but they forgot that he could kick well so he left footed the ball in," teammate Bebe Acre said.

A nifty shot by Marlou Solon barely squeezed past by Cmofa keeper Maria Cueto for an early QCU lead at the fifth minute.

However, the visitors caught up at the 62nd to level the score.

After a scoreless extension, the match went to a shootout, where the usually calm Meca provided the heroics. After the first four kickers made it a 5-all deadlock, Meca made sure there would be no extension as she stopped Kate Francisco, paving the way for Carmel Colina's winning shot for the P20,000 top prize.

On the other hand, the Men's open final saw Hiroshi on the defensive end early before they were able to regroup.

Rolando Verdida connected with a streaking Aguilar at the 30th for a 1-0 lead.

Aguilar, whose acceleration with the ball gave a lot of headaches to the defense, came close later but his shot missed.

In the second half, Marion Cubelo stripped defender Kim Relucio inside the penalty but he also bungled his shot.

Dave Intong finally found his mark at the 70th after banging in a cross to level the match.

Five minutes later, after receiving a pass inside the box, Aguilar, instead of opting for a power shot, looped the ball past the keeper to score and spark another Hiroshi celebration.

Don Bosco kept on pushing in the end game behind Glen Ramos’ passing but the Hiroshi defense kept up to seal the win and the P30,000 top prize.

ON THE PROWL: Queen City's Rene Menchavez tries to get past a Don Bosco defender in their 2-7 loss in the Cebu Inter Club semifinals last May 14.

Sun*Star photo Allan Cuizon

IT WAS an anticlimactic semifinals as Hiroshi Football Club and Don Bosco Alumni FC scored easy routs to arrange a finals showdown today in the Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament at the University of San Carlos Gym.

Hiroshi FC blanked Futbol Sociedad de Leyte (FSL), 4-0, for its fifth shutout in the tournament, while an undermanned Queen City United (QCU) bowed to DBAFC, 2-7.

However, QCU fans can take comfort in the fact that their Ladies team is in the finals after a 4-0 cakewalk over FSL.

After a slow start, Martin Bontia hit from left flank for a 1-0 Hiroshi lead going into the second half. Workhorse Junard Aguilar added another at the 55th before Harold Buot and Julius Acre scored their goals at the 81st and 87th minute.

Hiroshi will again be missing the services of Ariel Cahilig, who got sent off for the second match this week.

Cahilig was also red carded in their draw against DBAFC, and yesterday was sent off at the 19th together with FSL’s Henry Gotardo for retaliating.

In the other match, Don Bosco Alumni, reinforced by the University of San Jose-Recoletos, took the lead at the 20th courtesy of Oliver Colina before Robert Nicart made it 2-0 three minutes later.

Joshua Fegidiro broke away from the defense at the 30th to narrow the gap to 2-1 at the end of the first half. However, QCU’s defense crumbled in the second half as they conceded five goals before Fegidero nailed his second goal via penalty.

Meanwhile, Katrina Bejec struck first in the first half and Marlou Solon added another in the second half, while the wily Rhodora Toledo scored twice to book their seat in the finals against Mulbachs, which defeated Misamis Oriental FA, 1-0.

Paola Liok scored the lone goal at the 62nd for Mulbachs hard-earned win. Mulbachs will try to reverse its 0-1 loss to QCU in the eliminations.

RED CARD: Veterans get down and dirty during St Vincent - Hiroshi's 3-2 win over QC in the 38 above division last May 13 at the Sacred Heart School Jesuit field. The QC keeper was later ejected in the game.

Sun*Star photo by Allan Cuizon

BARELY two months ago, the University of San Carlos ladies were hailed the best in the lot after ruling the Aboitiz Women’s Open. Now they can’t nail even a single win.

Mulbachs FC handed the reigning Cebu champion a thorough 5-0 thumping in the Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament at the USC Technological Center.

Meanwhile, the semifinals of the Men’s Open will be at USC-TC, while the ladies will be at the Sacred Heart School Jesuit field.

“It’s tough, we’re back to square one,” USC coach Dexter Arrojado told Sun.Star Cebu at the sidelines, minutes after Cathy Ramos made it 4-0 in the 47th minute. “We have to rebuild and train new players.”

In the first half, Keith Shelly Canton scored in the 21st, before Halei Marmol and Leonor Satorre scored in the 24th and 29th for a 3-0 lead at the half.

“We lost everybody. This team only had less than a month to prepare for the tournament,” Arrojado said.

“Everybody” Arrojado referred to mentioned went to QCU, a team known then as USC Alumni whom they beat 2-1 in the Aboitiz finals just last March 19.

The USC team earlier lost to Cagayan Misamis Oriental Football Association, 2-0; Ormoc, 1-0; and Queen City United, 5-0.

Among them were Rhodora Toledo, Jan Salac, Ivy Bongcasan, and Marlou Solon who scored all but one of QCU’s 14 goals in their four wins in the tournament.

QCU leads the cast of semifinalists and will face Ormoc in the first game at 1:30, before Mulbachs takes on CMOFA in the next encounter.

On the other hand, Men’s top seed Hiroshi FC will face Ormoc, a team they beat 7-0 earlier, at 1:30 in USC TC while Queen City United takes on the Don Bosco Alumni FC which has been beefed up with the University of San Jose Recoletos alumni.

The week long tourney, organized by the Cebu Amateur Football Club, winds up tomorrow with the finals in the ladies, men’s and 38 above division at USC-TC.

BUSY KEEPER: Futbol Sociodad de Leyte keeper Lourdes Rojas in action against Queen City. FSL lost 7-0 to QC in their first game,and defeated CMOFA, 2-1 last May 12.

Sun*Star photo by Arni Aclao

IN JUST a few months, the University of San Carlos Ladies squad has spiraled from being the Cebu Women’s Open champion to being doormats.

After losing some of its key players to graduation, USC lost big time to Queen City United, 5-0, in yesterday’s Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field.

What was probably more heartbreaking for the USC Ladies was that they were playing against a team with players who were with them just a few months ago.

QCU ace-striker Rodora Toledo scored a one against her former team at the second minute and Jan Salac buried the reigning Women’s champion deeper with a hat trick.

Salac got past Sharmaine Cambiador at the 14th and 23rd for a 3-0 lead going into the final half.

A change of goalkeepers didn’t fare well for USC as Salac completed her hat trick four minutes into the second half against Niña Mahinay.

To make matters worse, USC defender Vanessa Amann redirected the ball into her own goal for a 5-0 count in the 56th.

“Mahinay fumbled her save and Amman hit the ball to the net,” referee Michael Culibra said. “Queen City dominated the match, but Marlou Solon didn’t even play.”

Solon, also a USC product, is a known scoring threat.

In the other Ladies match-up, the Cagayan Misamis Oriental Football Association outlasted a gritty Football Sociedad de Leyte, 2-1, for its second win.

Cmofa got a 2-0 lead going into the second half courtesy of Ewa Furio’s goal at the fifth and Carla Alabat’s strike at the 37th.

FSL came back in the 59th with a perfect set piece from Jeynette Mercado, who sent the ball to the top corner to make it 2-1. Mercado had another attempt a few minutes later but was stopped by the Cmofa goalkeeper.

Despite some more advances, FSL couldn’t connect again and keeper Leonila Lourdes Rojas had to scramble a few saves to keep the margin low.

Both teams are already in the semifinals and will just be playing for rankings, while USC will play for pride when it faces Mulbachs in its final assignment today at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center (USC-TC).

HEAD OVER HEELS: A hiroshi player gets close and intimate with the football in their 7-0 win over Leyte last May 11 at the SHS J feild

Sun*Star photo by Allan Cuizon

IT’S not only the top men and lady players who are having fun in the 1st Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center and Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field, but also the golden boys in the 38-Above division.


The combined Queen City-Dads United managed to endure the heat and desert-like field to eke out a 2-1 win over Hiroshi St. Vincent at the SHS-J field yesterday.

Meanwhile, a lucky break in the last minute allowed QC to even up with Don Bosco Alumni FC, 1-1, in the Men’s Open.

QC-Dads’s line-up features familiar football figures like Lito and Vincent Ramos and Renato Yap, while Hiroshi has Felimon Ylaya, Bebe Acre, Eddie Buot, Venerando Bagano and Harou Iwanaga.

And as a “sign of respect” to the veterans, organizers have decided to adopt a flying substitution scheme in the division.

Yap got past the defense at the seventh minute to put QC-Dads on top by one.

Later, QC goalkeeper Nimrod Quiñones went for the ball off a corner and missed, allowing an unchecked Bagano to level the count at 1-1 going into the half.

Despite the heat, fatigue and all, the two squads went at it in the second half.
Buot, who coaches the University of the Visayas Senior squad, had a few chances at goal, while a QC player attracted attention after tripping by himself.

Yap again got past Hiroshi ‘keeper Buenaventura Canoy, while Quiñones tapped out a shot in the dying minutes to preserve their win.

Hiroshi will have a chance to get back at QC as the three teams in the division will play a double-round elimination, with the top two colliding in the finals.

In the other game, Kid Nicart put Don Bosco on top at the 59th before QC equalized deep in injury time.

Joshua Fegidro headed Rene Menchavez’s pass back to the penalty area, where a 6-foot-2 Ivan Dimco waited to head the ball past Oscar Lemence for the late goal.

Queen City is now tied with Hiroshi on top with seven points apiece but the latter has the advantage in goal difference with 12 after defeating Leyte, 7-0, in its first game.

VETERAN MOVES: Action in the 38 above division of the Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament

Sun*Star photo by Arni Aclao

Perhaps Hiroshi needed more room to really show their stuff.

A day after being held to a scoreless draw, the Hiroshi Football Club found their groove after routing erstwhile unbeaten Queen City United 6-1, in the 1st Cebu Inter Club Invitational Tournament at the University of San Carlos.

Despite the loss, Queen City, who plays Don Bosco Football Club today, is still on top of the standings with two wins, with Hiroshi at second with a win and a draw.

Last Monday, they were held to a scoreless draw against the DBFC at the cramped Sacred Heart School Jesuit field while playing well against Queen city in the roomier USC TC field.

The game also had an interesting sub plot, as it featured former members of the Carmen National School and current University of the Visayas squad playing against each other.

Josaphat Sacil, Ivan Dimco and coach Mario Ceniza are with Queen City, while former Carmen teammates, Junard Aguilar, Martin Ceniza and UV teammates Marion Cubelo, Jake Acrea and Frederick Alazas are with Hiroshi.

After early misses, Jake Acre put Hiroshi on top in the 22nd after converting a penalty and before Queen City could recover, Cubelo got one past keeper Beth Pius.

The prolific Joshua Fegidero scored the lone goal for Queen City in the 36th with a turn and shoot to get past Alazas.

Aguilar could have made it 4-1 in the 54th with Pius down, but Sacil anticipated his move and cleared his shot.

There was no clearing substitue Rommel Cuizon’s shot in the 75th for a 4-1 count and an unchecked Ronel Saranillo scored in the 84th before Cuizon closed out in the 87th.

In the other men’s open match, the USC varsity lost their second straight game to Ormoc 2-0, while in the ladies side, Queen City got by Mulbachs 1-0 and the Cagayan Misamis Oriental Football Association won over USC 2-0

KTEC in action: Hiroshi's Frederick Alazas pulls a save.
Sun*star photo by Arni Aclao

JOSHUA Fegidero’s hat trick carried host Queen City United to a 3-2 win over the University of San Carlos (USC) in yesterday’s Cebu Inter-Club National Invitational Tournament at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field.

It was QCU’s second win after an easy 6-0 rout over Futbol Sociedad de Leyte in their first game last Sunday.

Meanwhile, midfielder-turned-goalkeeper Frederick “Ktec” Alazas came up with a timely save as Hiroshi drew with Don Bosco Alumni FC, 0-0, in the first game.

After an early miss by Rene Menchavez, Fegidero found him streaking towards USC keeper Peter Babiera for the first goal at the 25th minute.

However, Fegidero’s effort went to naught after a defensive miscommunication had Yancy Menchavez’s intended back pass streaking past own keeper Beth Pius to level the count at the 27th.

Early in the second half, Fegidero drove from left and flicked a shot towards the bottom corner to give host QCU the lead.

After getting tackled inside the penalty area at the 65th, Fegidero, a member of Bacolod’s famous football playing clan, made it 3-1.

Jan Michael Abellana brought USC closer at the 79th after redirecting a free kick, but the Queen City defense held to preserve the win.

In the first game, reigning Cebu champion Hiroshi FC, which had the upper hand in the match, found itself a man short against Don Bosco after referee Randy Estremos gave Ariel Cahilig his second yellow card at the 58th.

A few minutes later, Estremos awarded a penalty to Don Bosco but Alazas, a former youth national team member, stopped Oliver Colina’s shot to preserve the score.

“That was close,” Alazas said after the game.

Today, Hiroshi will face off with QCU at the University of San Carlos- Technological Campus in what could be a finals preview.

Goal scorer: Rhodora Toledo scores one of her two goals in Queen City's 7-0 win.
Sun*Star photo by Arni Aclao

THE Futbol Sociedad de Leyte lady booters, competing in the Cebu Inter Club National Invitational Tournament to test their mettle, found themselves on the receiving end of a 7-0 bashing by Queen City United in the opener yesterday at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center (USC-TC).

“If they want experience, this is the right way to gain experience,” said an observer of the Leyte team, composed mainly of high-school players from Ormoc National High School and University of the Philippines-Tacloban.

The Men’s opener was just as lopsided as Queen City defeated FSL, 6-0.
Against the QCU, composed of USC alumni and the forerunners of ladies football in Cebu, the action was predictably kept on the Leyte side.

Rhodora Toledo sneaked in the first goal off Carmel Colina’s cross at the third minute, and at the 12th reversed roles as she fed Colina for an early 2-0 lead. Colina earlier earned a yellow card from Kurt Acre for excessive complaining of a non-call.

Another shot by Colina at the 15th sailed high, while Toledo missed a pointblank shot at the 21st.
USC keeper Iris Meca found herself with nothing to do, so she opted to clear the pebbles on her goal area, while engaging the crowd behind her in chitchat.

Toledo added another goal after getting past keeper Ma. Lourdes Leonila Rojas at the 34th before Katherine Bejec’s lob in the 39th made it 4-0.

Fresh legs meant more woes for the visitors, and substitute Elaine Macasero droved in the fifth goal three minutes into the second half before Ivy Bongcasan’s scored at the 54th and 56th minute.

Meanwhile, Dads United will take on QCU in the opener of the 38-Above division, while QCU faces Mulbachs and USC collides with the Cagayan team in the Ladies side.

In the Men’s Open, Aboitiz Cup champion Hiroshi FC will take on Don Bosco Alumni, while QC will face the USC varsity at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field.

Action in San Roque Sun*Star photo by Amper Campaña

The Cebu Amateur Football Club's ambitious program will have its low key start today with the opening of the 1st CEbu Inter Club national Invitational Tournament at the University of San Carlos.

Club president Joel Catan, tournament director Richard Montayre and head coach Mario Ceniza wants to make the tournament an annual affair and have it calendared by the Philippine Football Federation so the other provinces can prepare for it.

"We want to make it annual, and definitely by next year, we willhave more teams because we will be adding the age group divisions," Catan said.

The organizing club have dangled a hefty P30,000 top purse in the Men's Open, which will feature teams from outside Cebu as well as host Queen City United, Don Bosco and reigning Cebu champion Hiroshi Football Club.

In the ladies division, P20,000 will go to the winners and teams who will be joining are from Cagayan, Leyte, USC, Mulbachs and Queen City.

Players who are past their prime but still want to hold on to thier playing years can also play in the 38 above divison.

"We have no casy awards for this division, because most of the playes are already professionals," Catan said.

HIROSHI team owner Harou Iwanaga extends his umbrella of blessing to the Under-12 kids with the Hiroshi Football Festival on May 22 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

“I noticed that they practice regularly but when I asked them if they have a tournament, they said no,” Iwanaga said during a meeting with the media early this week.

“I really want to give opportunities to more players and I am thinking of a long-term project for kids. If we can’t get them into sports, they’d do other things, maybe drugs,” Iwanaga said.

Iwanaga has been supporting the Hiroshi Football Club, composed mostly of players from Brgy. Sambag I, and also has softball, volleyball, and baseball teams.

“We will give certificates and trophies to the participants of the Hiroshi Football Festival, but no money because we don’t want them to have that kind of attitude,” Hiroshi coach Francis Ramirez said.

Iwanaga is hopeful that the one-day football fiesta would be a success and looks forward to holding more tournaments for the kids.

“With the help of the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA), I hope we can organize more of this,” he said.

But Iwanaga’s plan for Cebu football doesn’t end there.

The transplanted Japanese, who grew up in the US, wants to build a football school and encourage other sponsors to put up their teams.

“I want them to do what I’ve been doing with Hiroshi. Look at Japan, they started the J League only 11 years ago, now it’s very successful. I see no improvement in football in Cebu,” he said. “I dream that someday, Philippine football will also grow. I want to return the blessings that I’ve received to this country.”

Iwanaga also plans to send five players every three months to train in Japan.

Aside from that, Iwanaga is also looking for a baseball field.

“Just a small field, maybe 8,400 square meters. I have been scouring the classified ads.

IT WAS a case of being with the right person at the right time.

Yesterday at the Scoop Forum at Baseline Restaurant, Mario Ceniza and Richard Montayre of the Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC) announced their intention to make their 1st Cebu Inter-Club Invitational National Tournament an annual affair, but again pointed out the lack of a decent football field in City.

“We are hoping that the Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) can negotiate with the City Government for a football field in the South Reclamation Project (SRP),” said Montayre, the tournament director.

Just two seats away from him sat Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Jonathan Guardo, who was also there to talk about Cebu City’s participation to the Arafura Games.

“Actually, it has been Mayor Osmeña’s plan to put up a Sports Village, but it has been delayed because of the conflicts,” Guardo said.

Cebu City and Talisay City earlier tangled in a dispute on the ownership of 54 of the 295 hectares in the SRP. Recently, the Department of Justice gave the nod to Cebu and a title is already pending.

“Now that it is settled, definitely by June, we can start the construction of the football and the baseball fields,” Guardo said.

Late last year, Guardo announced the creation of a Sports Village at the SRP, where facilities for football, softball, baseball, boxing and gymnastics would be constructed.

Guardo’s statement yesterday was music to the ears of Ceniza and Montayre, along with the rest of the local sports community.

“I am very happy to hear it, I believe that every football-loving Cebuano will embrace it. Thank you very much,” Ceniza said.

Meanwhile, Montayre announced that after the Inter-Club, the CAFC will coordinate with the CebuFA to have its tournament included in the Philippine Football Federation’s calendar of activities.

“That way, the other FAs (football associations) will look forward to this tournament,” Montayre said.

This year, teams from Ormoc, Tacloban, Central Mindanao, and Pangasinan will join the Inter-Club competition.

“I wanted them to try out for the national team,”

Hiroshi team owner Harou Iwanaga clarified the issue which ran in this paper last Sunday, regarding his players non participation in the two day trials for the RP training pool conducted by national coach Aries Caslib last week.

“Aries came to us on Wednesday, and I asked my players who wanted to try out for the team, and nobody said yes,” Iwanaga said during a press briefing at his office with coach Francis Ramirez.

“The next day, we were surprised because we lacked seven players, two were absent and five joined the tryouts,” Ramirez said.

It was at that point that Iwanaga got mad, because the players didn’t inform him, the coach nor the team captain of their intention of joining the tryouts that was held April 28 and 29.

“So that night, I named them one by one, all nine of them, and told them to attend the trials, but that afternoon, they said they weren’t able to wake up in time,” Iwanaga explained.

“We really wanted them to join, we told them that this is their chance, and besides Aries personally paid us a visit during our practice, malain nya ta,” Ramirez explained.

“When I read about something bad against the team, it really hurts me,” Iwanaga said. “I didn’t put up the team to earn money, I did this because I want to help,”

Meanwhile, aside from their practices, Iwanaga is also trying to improve the attitude of the players.

“I tell them you are nothing yet, if you have won maybe in Bacolod or in Dumaguete, then you done a little, don’t think big of yourself, because you have accomplished nothing yet,” Iwanaga said.

This year, Hiroshi won both the Aboitiz Men’s Open and Champion’s League aside from the Shangrila Futsal and Thirsty Cup.

“I have also given them curfews and those who violate it will be grounded for a week,” he said. “I want to help them, that’s why I am strict with them and I scold them, that’s just too help them and it’s up to them to change their attitude.”

Next week, Hiroshi is set to join the 1^st Cebu Inter Club National Invitational Tournament at the University of San Carlos Technological Center.

“I told them do not underestimate any team that will join,” Iwanaga said

GET a load of this football fans - an annual national football tournament here in Cebu.

The re-invigorated Cebu Amateur Football Club will be staging its 1^st Cebu Inter Club Invitational National Tournament on May 7 – 14 at the University of San Carlos – Technological Center and the Sacred Heart School Jesuit field.

“This is actually the fifth time we held this tournament but it is the first time that we have decided to go national,” club president Joel Catan said during the tourney’s press conference at Tequilla Joe.

The tournament will initially have three categories this year, the Men’s and Ladies Open and the 38 above division, though they are planning for a bigger one next year.

“Most of the members of our club now have sons or daughters who are into sport and we want to support them, definitely next year, we will have an age group category,” Catan said.

Tournament director Richard Montayre said that they are expecting teams from Ormoc, Davao, Bagiou, San Carlos City, West Negros College, Central Mindanao Football Association, Pangasinan and the Manila Blue Guards to join the one week tourney.

“We are still waiting for confirmation from the other teams, and if they decide to not join, that’s when we will open the invitation to local clubs since our priority is the out of town teams,” Montayre said. “

“We want to foster friendship and unity among outside clubs,” Catan added, “To erase doubts on biased officiating, we have asked teams to bring one official also,”

The teams will also be playing for the P30,000 top prize in the men’s open and P20,000 in the ladies open, though no cash prizes has been set for the 38-above division since most of the players are executives.

Local teams who will be in the event, are Queen City United, Don Bosco, USC, Mulbachs, and Hiroshi

OLIVER Colina (no 19) got an early birthday gift from national coach Aries Caslib – a spot in the RP training pool.

The former University of San Jose Recoletos standout and Exas point-man, who turns 23 on May 7th impressed Caslib in the two scrimmages held Thursday and yesterday at the University of San Carlos field.

“He’s a good midfielder who can make the dangerous forward pass and he can also take that long shot,” Caslib said during a brief talk after his visit with the kids at the Pabol Football Academy.

Meanwhile, Cebuano football players missed their chances after only five of the 17 showed up in the early session yesterday.

“Maybe, these are the only ones who are really interested,” Caslib reportedly told Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo.

For his part, Colina is elated by his selection.

“This is a dream come true for me, I’ve been waiting for this, though I have to take care of other things because this came as a surprise,” said Colina.

“I’m thinking of where I will get the money to go there, but there is a huge percentage that I will go,” Colina said.

Colina first caught the eye of Caslib when he played against his team in the Ched National Games in Bacolod.

Still, despite his selection on the select 30 man team training pool, Colina will have to earn his spot.

“He’s got to improve his awareness of the whole pitch, his defending behavior and his attitude when he loses the ball. His first reaction is not to recover,” Caslib said.

Aside from that, Colina, who predominantly plays the midfield or striker, must also learn to play two or more positions.

“If he only plays one, and there is another one better than him he won’t make it, he must learn to play other spots,” Caslib said.

Aside from Colina, Caslib is eyeing former Carmen National School mainstay Arnie Pasenabo for his team.

“I will be going to Bacolod to talk with his parents and with his coach,” said Caslib, who handled Pasenabo, Michael Casas and the rest of the Carmen boys who made the Nationa U 17 team a few years back.

Keeper in Action: Paref Springdale U15 goal keeper pulls one of his saves in helping his team finished third in the Philippine Football Fiesta in Barotac Nuevo last April. He is the son of Joel Pascual, who learned his football in Polomolok, South Cotabato contributed photo by Joel Pascual

Dive or tackle: A Fairchild player hits the dirt after a tackle from a Ragmo defense. The two teams drew 1-1 in thier game last Sunday.
Sun*Star photo Amper Campaña

IT USED to be the San Roque Parish field in Wireless, Mandaue was a beehive of games during weekends. That was before the football scene there died and the players stopped playing.

But the former football hotbed is slowly recovering and its second step to recovery began yesterday with the 2nd San Roque Summer Football League, an eight-team competition, which is a project of Exas and Cebu International School coach Eleazar Toledo.

Though he steered Exas to two runner-up finishes last year in the Aboitiz Cup and Champions League, Toledo showed no mercy to his former team as he helped eked out a 3-2 comeback win by the Mad Dogs over Exas in the opener.

Vincent Bordalba got past Jesus Singson Jr. at the 22nd minute and Lemar Baunsit followed suit five minutes later for an early 2-0 lead.

Singson played defense in the second half and CIS’ Red Miguel came in as the Mad Dogs slowly came alive. Joushua Fegidiro finally ended the scoring drought after hitting his mark at the 64th and Toledo blasted in his own goal at the 70th to even the match.

Four minutes before the final whistle, Toledo struck again for the Mad Dogs’ electrifying comeback.

The second game saw the homegrown St. Peter Club routing Metropolitan FC, 5-1, in a match that saw two of the Colina clan sent off by referee Kurt Acre. MFC’s Peter Colina was sent off in the 33rd, a minute before Jesus Menaling struck first for St. Peter at the 34th, and Jose Crejudos doubled the count at the 40th.

In the second half, Restituto Colina joined his cousin for an early shower after getting two yellows in a 12-minute span, and MFC finally scored at the 79th.

It was the closest they could get as St. Peter exploded late, Jonathan Sollo banged in his goal in the 81st and Eddie Ybanez made it 4-1 in the 84th. Before MFC could react, Rhino Amaro scored the final goal in the 87th.

In the other matches, Ragmu Debra drew with Fairchild, 1-1, with Ragmu’s Allen Faeldonia and Fairchild’s Nonoy Torre scoring the goals, while Don Bosco FC scored a 5-1 rout over Ramos FC. Creu Sanchez, Mark Buglosa, and Dem Sanchez scored once, while Warlou Sabella had two in their win.

The tournament will resume next Sunday still at San Roque Parish.