3 Paref players make national team

CEBU's age-group football powerhouse Paref-Springdale added another feather to its growing cap after three of its players were named to the Philippine National 14-Under team.

Kevin Tecson, Evanjames Mendoza and goalkeeper Joshua Cruz will represent the country in the Asian Football Confederation's U14 Festival of Football in Malaysia on May 29 to June 4.

The three got the stint after joining the tryouts conducted by national coach John Carmona last month and also surived the two-week training in Bago City.

The three players were also part of the Springdale team that won the Red Ribbon Under-14 title last March, with Tecson bagging the best midfielder award and Mendoza finishing second in the Best Striker race. Cruz was Paolo Pascual's substitute keeper.

Tecson, who is on his second stint with the national team, and Mendoza got the early call to join the training pool, while Cruz joined them a few days later in Bago City after Carmona saw the need for another goal keeper.

From the original 30 in the training pool, the list was cut down to 25 to the final 18 who will see action in the AFC meet.

"They were given a program by their coach for their two week stay here and I will just monitor their training. After two weeks, they will leave for Manila for the final two-week training before they leave for Malaysia," said Paref coach Mario Ceniza.

The Philippines is in Group E together with host Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Cambodia and Laos.

The AFC will also hold other U14 festivals in other Asian regions.

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