Negros XI eyes finals berth in football federation

WILL the Ceres-Negros Team continue its winning tale towards the finals?


The Norman Fegidero Jr.–mentored Ceres-Negros Team (5-1-0) is eyeing to earn their finals berth as they go up against Mindanao’s best and Group B’s No. 2 Davao Football Association (FA) (3-2-1) in the cross-over semifinals of the Philippine Football Federation Suzuki Under-23 National Cup to be played in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo City.


The Negrense booters, who topped Group A, are expected to continue to display their attacking offense in the tournament behind head coach Fegidero’s direction. Fegidero, who was once a fearsome striker in his days, now constantly preaches to his team “to score more and more.”


Undeniably, the Negros team has three of the tournament’s top scorers: Joshua Beloya (12 goals), Jovin Bedic (5 goals) and Aldrin Dolino (4 goals). These players are not only smart booters but are also gifted passers and are blessed with speed and great ball control.

During the Visayas Regionals, they (Negros Team) placed immense pressures on the opposing defenders. Like Iloilo that played with three defensive backs, the Negrenses made the Ilonggos paid for it. They zinged Ilonggo keeper Wilson Muñoz with shots all match long.


In the quarterfinals, only Masbate has shown how to stifle the Negrense offense.


Meanwhile, Davao is expected to rely on its keeper Rufino Mantos, who directs their defense, and Enrique Romero-Salas who drives their engine.


In the other semifinal match, host-Iloilo team (4-1-1) will play the National Capital Region Team B (2-0-1).

The Ilonggos will bank on Francis Gustilo, Glester Sobremisana, Shirmar Felongco and Romeo Martinez while NCR Team B will have the PHL Football team-Azkals’ mainstays Yannick Tuason and David Basa.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on May 14, 2011.