Columbia Davao wins U23 football crown

THE Columbia Davao was unbeaten after four games to annex the crown of the Acer Cup U23 Mindanao Invitational Football Tournament at the Tionko field Monday.


Columbia blanked Central Mindanao University (CMU), 4-0, in the final day of competition. Nur Hazzanal Mentang knocked in all four goals in the 48th, 52nd, 67th and 80th minutes.


Columbia finished with 12 points to rule the single round-robin bootfest while University of Mindanao (UM) Tagum, which hacked out a 5-1 win over Medvil FC of Davao, made nine points for the runner-up honors.


Columbia pocketed P10,000 cash, trophy and medals.UM Tagum received P5,000 and medals while third-placer CMU went home with P2,000 and medals.


Edwin Giganto, Jr. of Columbia was named most valuable player and best defender while Mentang was hailed best midfielder.


UM Tagum's Birn Manique and Columbia's Jeffrey Albon took the best striker and best goalkeeper awards, respectively.


Giganto got P2,000 cash aside from the Acer laptop he and the rest of the individual awardees received from Davao FA president Edward "Chaya" Lim, general secretary Erwin Protacio and board members Reginald Ozims and Rafael "Pops" Vilela during the awarding rites. (Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on September 01, 2011.