Sports: PFF-Suzuki Men’s U23 Visayas Qualifiers Resumes Tomorrow

The Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki Men’s Under-23 Visayas Qualifying Rounds will resume at the Central Philippine University football field in Iloilo City tomorrow, March 24 which will feature a game between defending champion Negros Occidental Football Association’s Negros-Ceres and archrival Iloilo Football Association.

Bannered by La Salle-Ceres team, the Negrense squad came off from a 4-1 debut victory in an away game over Negros Oriental Football Association last Sunday at the Silliman University Ball Field in Dumaguete City.

Gerardo "Jinggoy" Valmayor of San Carlos City nailed his team’s opening goal in the 3rd minute of the match to end a 1-nil lead at the break.

In the second half, Abelardo Solinas scored Negros-Ceres second goal in the 56th minute as Michael Continedo gave the defending champion its third goal in the 77th minute of the match.

Up by 3-nil, the Negrense booters continued to be aggressive both in offense and defense, however, with eight minutes left before the regulation, NORFA’s Nico Macapal sent the ball at the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

Four minutes after NORFA’s goal, Michael Cornel sealed the match with Negros-Ceres’ fourth goal in the 86th minute.

Meanwhile, those players who were cautioned during the last match are NORFA’s Reggie Cisneros (38th) and Rob Famador (62nd) and NOFA’s Solinas (56th).

Suiting up for the Negros-Ceres squad of team manager Leo Rey Yanson are Azkals’ U23 standout Joshua Beloya (Bacolod City), Valmayor and Reymark "Buboy" Fernandez (Victorias City), last year’s "best goal keeper" Robert Mendoza, second choice keeper Benito Rosalia, third keeper Jurex Replentes, Florence Panogaling, Jimmy Malalo-an, Florence Agraviador, Anthony Tongson, George Balceda, Alan Alfaro, Neil Ryan Lirio, Norman Selotorio, Feb Beneminito Baya, Archie Familiar, Ramoniño Aledro, Kent Guevarra, John Vendell Marcellana, Joash Cabus, Bon Joevie Amanquiton, Chip Christian Robles, John Timothy Bolo and Jimuel Arriola.

The team is mentored by Freddie "Nene" Lazarito while assisting him are Assistant Coaches Ramon Janeo, Ali Rojas Go, Lemuel Unabia and goalkeeper coach Michael Casas while head of the delegation is NOFA president Charlie Cojuangco accompanied by NOFA secretary general Paulline Javelona, team physician Dra. Emily Zerrudo and several NOFA staff.

This tournament, participated by NOFA, NORFA, Leyte Football Association, Cebu Football Association and Iloilo Football Club, will be played in a home-and-away format.* (with reports from SCOOP-Bacolod)

Negros Daily Bulletin