Baguio Football - Philex Pine Cup to see more teams this year

AT LEAST 16 teams in the men's open are expected to suit up as the Philex Pine Cup 2011 gets underway on April 9 to 12 at the Baguio Melvin Jones Football grounds.


The 11-a-side tournament in the four-day contest is expected to lure top football teams from all over the country while the ladies division has eight teams joining the fray in the competition hatched by the Baguio United Football Club.


Also joining are teams from the 18 and under division and the age group competition in the event in cooperation with City of Baguio, Department of Tourism-Cordillera sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and the Baguio-Benguet Football Association (BBFA).



Entry fee for the men’s open, 18 and under and ladies open will be at P2,500 while the seven-a-side age group competitions will be at P1,000 per team.

Last year, the tournament also saw a two-day football clinic in the hopes of popularizing the sports and train would be football players in this part of the country.


Teams from as far as Tarlac, Uminggan, Pangasinan State U, Laguna, Manaoag, and Agoo suited up last year for the men's open division and boys 21 under category.


This year, more teams are expected to join the tournament as it hopes to bring in a more competitive level of football not only in the city but all over the country as well.

FIFA rules will also apply in the tournament unless specifically provided by the tournament rules according to organizers.

Tournament format will be a single round robin match with the top four in every division advancing to the semis. All games in the semis and finals will be 45 minutes long while elimination games last for 30 minutes.


The Men’s 18 Under and the Ladies Open will see action starting April 9 while the age group tournament will be from April 11 to 12.

Interested teams who wish to join the tournament may send an e-mail to baguio united@gmail.com for invitation packet. (Roderick Osis)


Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on March 23, 2011.