RP overpowers University of Mindanao

THE University of Mindanao (UM) engaged the Philippine men's football side in a fierce battle and held its ground against clearly the more superior team Friday afternoon at the Tionko grounds.


That was only for 45 minutes.


The national team, with Filipino-British brothers Philip James and James Joseph Younghusband providing the fireworks, breezed through in the second half with six goals to finally defeat the home team in an entertaining friendly match that ended just before sundown.


"We have to get better and better. We were able to achieve what we trained for and I'm happy with the result. We have some good looks on the goal and it was just a tough team out there," said the national team's British coach Simon Alexander McMenemy at the end of the match.


Philip James Younghusband and veteran Yanti Bersales scored two goals each and Ruel Gener added one for the RP team. The other goal was an own goal that made it 6-0.

Philip James opened scoring with a right-footed blast inside the box off a pass from Emelio Caligdong early in the second half, then added another one from the same spot but this time using his left foot for a 2-0 lead.


The back-to-back goals instantly demoralized the UM booters, who matched the nationals' energy in the first half but only to succumb in the end in the face of the searing attack from the visitors.


The RP team actually dominated the match right from the opening whistle with excellent plays especially from the Younghusband brothers and Calidong, but just couldn't break the UM defense.


The RP booters had at least 12 chances to score in the first half but the outstanding play of keeper Jeffrey Albon kept them from finding the net.


Albon had two great saves--one when he hopped high to thwart a Philip James bullet shot from way out and another when he stopped the same player on a one-on-one situation.


The RP-UM showdown was witnessed by officials of the Davao Football Association (DFA), players from the different schools in the city and their coaches and parents.


The event also turned into a fan day when the young players and their parents had their photos taken with the RP players right after the match. There wa also autograph signing by some of the stars like the Younghusband brothers and coaches McMenemy and Edwin Cabalida.


The RP team opened its 10-day training camp in Davao City as it prepares for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers set in Vientiane, Laos on October 22 to 27.


The national team was scheduled to play the Hooligans FC on Sunday. On September 23, team will battle multi-titled Medvil FC.


Medvil's prized goalkeeper Dominador Tato IV of Emar Learning Center played for the national team during the second half Friday.

Sun Star Davao

Comment : Seems that NT played University of Mindanao and not Seagull on Friday...