Medvil-Davao places 2nd in Suzuki Cup U-23 Final

By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

Friday, May 31, 2013

THE Medvil Football Club of Davao City bowed to defending champion Ceres-Negros Occidental Football Association (Nofa), 0-1, via a penalty kick in the 77th minute of their finals showdown in the Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki Cup 23-Under National Cup at the Perdices Memorial Coliseum in Dumaguete City late Thursday afternoon.
Medvil-Davao coach Ramonito "Lalas" Carreon, in text messages to Sun.Star Davao on Friday, said that Ceres-Nofa scored after the Dabawenyo player Frances Jay Abrasaldo fouled their player inside the penalty box.
"It was a good foul though since the Ceres player was about to shoot the ball. At least, Abrasaldo made it a 50-50 chance for Ceres-Nofa to score. We lost but we are happy because we earned the respect of the crowd, opponents and officials as well. Over all, it was a fantastic performance from the team," Coach Lalas said.
It can be recalled that Ceres-Nofa defeated the Davao City-based squad, 5-0, in the group stage eliminations.
Coach Lalas cited Medvil-Davao players, adding: "The team spirit was superb. They played full of joy in their hearts. They showed a very good quality and entertaining football. The team controlled the tempo of the match."
Medvil-Davao's Dominador G. Tato IV was named best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Coach Lalas, however, said they will have to scout new players for next year's tournament since some of the players who saw action in Dumaguete will no longer be eligible to play.
To his players, Coach Lalas said, "A million thanks to you boys. I am very blessed having players like you with full of determination. Keep in mind that we lost but we are successful.
He was pertaining to Abrasaldo, Francis Jay Abalunan, Jomar M. Acedo, Ed Merill Walohan, Yoshiharu Koizumi, Jerard Birneza, Michael Nehemiah T. Simms, brothers Derrico Gabriel and David Angelo Diamante, Imardino B. Polo, Khadaffy Biruar, Renz Rhey T. Napuran, Amani Manuel S. Aguinaldo, Danilo Lascuna Jr., Michael Pantojan and Jestoni Felipe. Alvic Troyo assisted Coach Lalas in the team managed by Rafael "Pops" Vilela.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on June 01, 2013.

Battle of lowly teams as Army takes on Nomads

A struggling Philippine Army side seeks to move out of the direct relegation zone as it takes on Nomads on Saturday night in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

In probably their best chance to rise from the bottom of the 10-team pile, the Troopers face a fellow struggling side in the eighth-ranked Nomads at 8:30 p.m.

Arresting a seven-game slide remains a tough task for the Troopers, who will be facing a Nomads side that snapped its own eight-game skid after forcing fancied Loyola Meralco to a 2-2 draw last time.

A win for the Troopers, who have four points to show, will propel them to ninth place, past fellow military club Air Force.

Nomads, on the other hand, will overtake PSG in seventh place if it defeats Army.

spin

UFL Saturday

une 01, 2013
4:00 pm	Manila All-Japan	-	Agila FC	McKINLEY HILL
6:15 pm	Phil. Navy FC	-	Union Internacional Manila	McKINLEY HILL
8:30 pm	Nomads FC	-	Army FC	McKINLEY HILL

Division 1	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Stallion FC	16	14	0	2	53	18	35	42
Global FC	15	13	1	1	42	7	35	40
Loyola Meralco Sparks	16	10	4	2	47	17	30	34
Kaya FC	16	6	7	3	31	19	12	25
PachangaDiliman FC	16	8	1	7	25	25	0	25
Green Archers	16	5	3	8	30	34	-4	18
PSG FC	16	4	3	9	27	34	-7	15
Nomads FC	15	3	4	8	12	30	-18	13
Airforce FC	16	2	0	14	9	52	-43	6
Army FC	14	1	1	12	12	52	-40	4
Division 2	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Team Socceroo FC	13	13	0	0	43	10	33	39
Union Internacional Manila	12	7	3	2	25	19	6	24
Agila FC	13	8	0	5	24	27	-3	24
Forza FC	12	5	3	4	27	22	5	18
Laos FC	13	5	2	6	24	28	-4	17
Cimarron FC	12	4	1	7	21	25	-4	13
Phil. Navy FC	13	2	4	7	15	24	-9	10
Dolphins United FC	12	3	0	9	17	25	-8	9
Manila All-Japan	12	1	3	8	12	28	-16	6

Valmayor lifts Ceres-Negros to 2nd straight U-23 title

by Alder Almo

MANILA, Philippines – Ceres-Negros banked on Jinggoy Valmayor to pull off a hard-earned 1-0 victory as they successfully defended their PFF-Suzuki Cup U-23 title against Medvil Davao on Thursday at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Coliseum in Dumaguete.


Valmayor converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute as Ceres-Negros won their second major title this year following their Smart PFF National Club championship conquest at the expense of United Football League first division campaigner PSG FC.

Unlike in their first meeting in the eliminations which ended in a 5-0 rout in favor of the champions, Davao parked the bus and focused on stopping Negros from scoring in their hopes of sending the match into penalty shootout. But the Bacolod-based club found the opening they needed when Jimuel Arriola, who scored in their 2-0 semifinal win over arch-rival Iloilo in the semis, was decked inside the box in the 81st minute.

Valmayor, the former UP Fighting Maroon skipper, calmly sank the penalty kick.

The 1-0 victory also preserved Ceres-Negros’ clean sheet throughout the tournament. In a show of dominance, the Bacolod squad coached by Ali Rojas Go rolled over Masbate (3-0), Davao (5-0) and Dipolog (6-0) in the group stage before blanking their arch-rival Iloilo, 2-0, in the semifinals.

Ceres-Negros pocketed Php 50,000 for their second straight title while Joshua Beloya, who scored one of the two goals against Iloilo in the semifinals, won three individual awards.


Beloya, who starred for the junior Azkals in the Southeast Asian Games in 2011, won the Best Midfielder, Most Valuable Player and shared the Golden Boot award with North Cotabato’s Rudane Tamon and Juven Benitez. The trio all scored four goals throughout the tournament.


Beloya’s teammate Anthony Tongson won the Best Defender award while Davao’s Dominador Tato was adjudged as the Best Goal Keeper.

Davao took home the Fair Play award.

Earlier in the day, North Cotabato took the third place honors leaning on Tamon’s brace to score a 3-0 win over Iloilo.

philstar

Global looking to join Loyola in Singapore Cup quarterfinals

By Karlo Sacamos


GLOBAL’s quest for an international title resumes on Saturday when it opens its maiden Singapore Cup campaign against defending champion Warriors FC at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.


The United Football League champion is in the crucial part of its title-retention bid back home, and will take part in its second international tournament in three weeks.


Global, which finished third in the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup behind fancied club Dordoi Bishkek and KRL, face the Warriors at 7:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

The Warriors feature several Singapore internationals led by Daniel Bennett as well as three Japanese players in Shimpei Sakurada, Tatsuro Inui, and Kazuyuki Toda, who once played for Tottenham in the English Premier League and represented Japan in the 2002 Fifa World Cup.

Loyola Meralco, the other Philippine club invited to play in the annual tournament featuring teams from Singapore and other top sides from neighboring countries, is already through to the Last Eight after dispatching Harimau Muda B, 3-0, on Sunday.

“It’s tough luck we drew the defending champions, but I think our experience in the President’s Cup will do us good,” Global owner Dan Palami said. “And the good thing is that more foreigners are allowed.”

Unlike the President’s Cup, which only allows two foreigners, the Singapore Cup allows five reinforcements per squad.

Global is fielding Carlos Guisso, skipper Yu Hoshide, Roland Sadia, Ben Starosta, and new recruit Jordan Robertson.

Robertson is a 25-year-old veteran striker who was once a teammate of Starosta at Sheffield United in England’s League One.

Palami is confident Robertson, who has been practicing with Global for the past two weeks, “will be up to the task.”

Global’s big boss waved off suggestions Robertson could end up like the team’s late pick-up in Moussa Sanogo, the replacement Ivorian goalkeeper who proved to be an unsteady presence as the team's last line of defense in the President’s Cup.

“I’m not really that worried. I’ve seen him play. He’s a natural striker,” Palami said. “My only concern is if he’s able to adapt immediately to the conditions of the Philippines and Singapore.”

Global is hoping to ride the momentum of its 2-1 victory over Stallion in the UFL on Tuesday that solidified its chances of regaining the title.

“It’s a good momentum to start on,” Palami said. “That gives us a bit more confidence.”

spin

Azkals friendly : Philippines vs India

India FA (AIFF) website confirms friendly Philippines vs India on 6. September

The friendly is on a FIFA match day and is scheduled to be played in Philippines.

India FA link

AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers - Philippines 0-2 Malaysia

AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers in Myanmar

Today

Philippines 0-2 Malaysia

Standings and match reports  :  Link

Global unveils squad for Singapore Cup

Global has tapped English striker Jordan Robertson for the RHB Singapore Cup clash against Warriors on Saturday.

With Izzo El Habbib unavailable, Global boss Dan Palami has opted to sign Robertson for the tournament in an effort to address its problems up front which came to the fore in the AFC Presidents Cup.

Robertson was part of the Sheffield United squad from 2006-2009, and was teammates with Global midfielder Ben Starosta, who is part of the Singapore Cup lineup.

Before the move to Global, Robertson playe with League Two side Scunthorpe United scoring three goals in nineteen appearances.

“I think he (Robertson) will be up to the task,” said Palami.

“It will be good to see him and Ben play together as they have been teammates that’s why he was a good choice for us,” said Palami.

Palami is hopeful Robertson can adapt quickly to the playing conditions here and in Singapore even though the striker has been training with the team for two weeks already.

“I’m not that worried, he has a good touch on the ball so he’s a natural striker, and my only concern is whether he can adapt quickly to the conditions here and in Singapore,” said Palami.

Joining Robertson and Starosta as Global’s foreign contingent for the Singapore Cup are defender Carlos Guisso, goalkeeper Roland Sadia and midfielder Yu Hoshide.

Defender Juani Guirado is also expected to link up with the squad in Singapore, while both Joshua Beloya and Patrick Reichelt, who are part of the 20-man squad will not be flying to Singapore

Global lineup for Singapore Cup:

Goalkeepers: Sadia, Sacapano, Pascual

Defenders: Barbaso, Guisso, Guirado, Ochoterena

Midfielders: Starosta, Angeles MW, Angeles MV, Christiaens, De Murga, De Jong, Theuer, Altiche, Hoshide

Forwards: Robertson, Bahadoran

Global Fc

Ott back in Azkals for friendly

Fil-German Manny Ott returns from a long absence while his younger brother Mike makes his debut for the Philippine Azkals when they face Hong Kong in a friendly match on June 4.

The brothers are part of the 18-man roster that will see action in the former British colony.

Also in the cast are UFL standouts Phil Younghusband and Chieffy Caligdong and overseas based players Neil Etheridge, Rob Gier, Javier Patino and Stephan Schrock.

Tuesday match was supposed to be the first of a planned three-match friendly but the Azkals and the Philippine Football Federation have yet to fill up the two remaining dates following the scrapping of a June 8 match with Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek.

A possible dilemma may occur on June 4 as a key United Football League match between Global FC and the Loyola Meralco Sparks will be held at the same time as the Azkals friendly.

Five Global players - Jeff Christiaens, Jason de Jong, Marwin Angeles, Ed Sacapano and Carli de Murga - are part of the Hong Kong friendly while Loyola has Phil and James Younghusband.

However, both clubs and the UFL are currently working on a solution.

The older Ott, 21, last saw action two years ago when he played for the national U-23 side in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta. He scored the opening goal in a match against Vietnam but lost 3-1.

manila bulletin

Quick-fire Pachanga deals Airmen a deflating defeat

By Karlo Sacamos

Pachanga-Diliman leaned on a strong start to turn back Philippine Air Force, 3-0, on Thursday night to regain a share of fourth place in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

The 2012 Division 2 champions practically took the fight out of the relegation-threatened Airmen in the first 17 minutes of the game when they built a three-goal cushion, courtesy of OJ Clariño, Andrew Santiago, and Marcus Lopez.

Pachanga thus sustained its impressive run in its maiden top flight campaign as it raised its point total ro 25 points, level with Kaya.

Air Force remained in danger of relegation with only six points to show, just two points ahead of last-placed Army.

Grabbing the opportunity in one of his rare starts, Clariño struck first three minutes into the game when he scored on a header off a free kick from Boyet Cañedo.

Cañedo registered his second assist seven minutes later when his cross from left side found Santiago, who also headed it in.

In a flash of individual brilliance this time, Lopez, the Guamanian international, eluded his defender before scoring on a left-footed long-range missile in the 17th to complete the early route.

Ian Araneta missed a clear-cut chance in the second half that could have trimmed the deficit for Air Force.

spin

Sparks extend woes, bow out of title contention

Karlo Sacamos

LOYOLA Meralco added to its United Football League letdowns on Thursday night after settling for a 1-1 draw against a rejuvenated Green Archers United side at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

Unable to draw inspiration from their recent Singapore Cup success, the Sparks squandered an early lead to officially bomb out of title contention after coming up with two stalemates and a loss in their last three games.

Phil Younghusband, who scored a brace in the Sparks' 3-0 win against Harimau Muda in the Singapore Cup over the weekend, put his team up against the Archers with a penalty conversion three minutes into the game.

But the Archers, riding the momentum of a three-game win streak, refused to surrender as Chieffy Caligdong scored his own penalty equalizing strike in the second half.

The Archers, though, failed to capitalize even after the Sparks went a man down following Simon Greatwich's ejection for picking up a second yellow card.

The draw allowed the Archers to retain their hold of sixth spot.

“It was a good result,” Caligdong said. “The whole team is in good spirits. Yung standing namin kailangan namin i-maintain.”

spin

UFL Thursday , Results and updated standings

UFL Div 1 Thursday - Live on AKTV


Pachanga Diliman 3-0 Air Force FC

3 min 1-0 Clarino
10 min 2-0 Santiago
18 min 3-0 Mariano
3-0 HT
3-0 FT



Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc 1-1  Green Archers United

4min 1-0 Phil Younghusband PK
1-0 HT
52 min 1-1 Chieffy Caligdong PK
1-1 FT

Division 1	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Stallion FC	16	14	0	2	53	18	35	42
Global FC	15	13	1	1	42	7	35	40
Loyola Meralco Sparks	16	10	4	2	47	17	30	34
Kaya FC	16	6	7	3	31	19	12	25
PachangaDiliman FC	16	8	1	7	25	25	0	25
Green Archers	16	5	3	8	30	34	-4	18
PSG FC	16	4	3	9	27	34	-7	15
Nomads FC	15	3	4	8	12	30	-18	13
Airforce FC	16	2	0	14	9	52	-43	6
Army FC	14	1	1	12	12	52	-40	4

Azkals squad for Hong Kong friendly

Official squad list for Hong Kong friendly on June 4 :

1. Neil Etheridge (Fulham Fc , England)
2. Robert Gier (Ascot United, England)
3. Phil Younghusband (Loyola)
4. James Younghusband (Loyola )
5. Jason De Jong (Global)
6. Jeffrey Christiaens (Global)
7. Manny Ott (Fc Ingolstadt II, Germany)
8. Mike Ott (TSV 1860 München U19, Germany)
9. Carlie de Murga (Global)
10. Paul Mulders (Ado den Haag, Netherlands)
11. Eduard Sacapano (Global)
12. Marwin Angeles (Global)
13. Juani Guirado (Racing Lermeno ,Spain and Global)
14. Chris Greatwich (Kaya)
15. Stephan Schrock (Hoffenheim , Germany)
16. OJ Porteria (Kaya )
17. Emelio Caligdong (Green Archers United)
18. Javier Patino (Buriram United, Thailand)

PFF U23 Suzuki Cup - Finals - NOFA win finals !

PFF U23 Suzuki Cup - Finals in Dumaguete


8.30 Am Third place match North Cotabato vs Iloilo

lloilo FA XI: Quiros, Sinoro, Esmilla, Larroza, Bellezon, Solinap, Albino, Cejalvo, Acuerdo, Herva, Suay

NOCOFA XI: Celeste, Balanueco, Jalandoni, Benitez, Lalantacon, Salinas, Lavega, Tamon, Jurao, Fuentes, Jasangas

10 min 1-0 Tamon (North Cotabato)
2-0 North Cotabato PK
2-0 HT
3-0 North Cotabato
3-0 FT




-------------------------------------------------------------
2.30 pm First place match NOFA vs Davao


Davao FA XI: Tato, Acedo, Abrasaldo, Biruar, Napuran, Diamante, Diamante, Koizumi, Abalunan, Simms, Walohan
NOFA XI Rosalia, Malalo-an, Tongson, Fernandez, Bolo, Beloya, Antony, Bedia, Cornel, Valmayor, Ariola

0-0 HT
1-0 Valmayor , PK (NOFA)
1-0 FT

Division two champ Team Socceroo ready to battle UFL`s big boys

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

Team Socceroo had an amazing stint in the United Football League this season, sweeping all of its 13 matches so far en route to clinching the Division Two title.
And the squad has a special inspiration for its successful run.
“Team Socceroo dedicates its UFL second division championship title this season to its manager, Wool Reyes,” said skipper Michael Reyes, brother of Wool. “Every game, every goal was a memento of him.”
Last March, the whole football community mourned the death of Wool who, at 34, passed away after battling brain aneurysm.
Michael said that the tragic incident inspired the squad to strive to do better in the competition.
“He was the inspiration and motivation behind the team this season,” Michael said. “He has given much to the football club from its early beginnings, its birthpains and struggles.”
Before this season, Team Socceroo barely made an impact since joining the UFL in 2011. The squad finished in seventh place in the second division last year and struggled to perform well in past Cup competitions.
But the squad made a big splash before the League competition this year, signing players from the all-Korean team General Trias International FC, which made a Cinderella run to the quarterfinals of the 2012 UFL Cup.
Those moves made Team Socceroo a force to be reckoned with. The squad has not lost in its 13 matches so far. It has scored 43 goals and while giving up only 10 for a goal differential of 33.
“The reason behind the successful season of Team Socceroo is the motivation and hard work we have made ourselves accustomed to,” Michael said. “We have welcomed new members of the club who contributed and further enhanced our strategy, tactics and management.”
To further bolster their lineup for next season, Michael said that Team Socceroo will be recruiting more players and enhancing its coaching quality further to assure their competitiveness in the first division.
“The club will be signing names locally and abroad to further strengthen its roster as what team management have mentioned,” Michael said. “Team Socceroo has been putting into mindset from the beginning of the season, in training and off the field, to train professionally and achieve the standard of quality amongst football clubs.”
With that, Michael vowed that Team Socceroo will be giving Division One teams a run for their money next season.
“Team Socceroo aims to continue its successful season in the 1st Division,” Michael said. “We will be prepared for the big boys, as they say.”

Interaksyon

Sparks ride momentum of Singapore Cup success

By Karlo Sacamos

LOYOLA Meralco tries to bring the momentum gained from its recent Singapore Cup success to the United Football League as it takes on a rejuvenated Green Archers United side on Thursday at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.
Riding high after their 3-0 rout of a young and undermanned Harimau Muda B side in Singapore last Sunday, the Sparks hope to erase the stigma of their disappointing showings in their past two UFL outings when they face the sixth-running Archers at 7:30 p.m.
With 33 points to show and three games remaining, the third-running Sparks are still mathematically alive in the hunt for title, although their title hopes are hinged on the results of top two squads Stallion and Global.
The Archers, who are on a three game-winning streak — the last victory assuring they remain in top flight next season, are expected to give the Sparks stiff competition as they hope to continue their rise in the table.
A win for the Archers, who enter the match with 17 points, will move them two points behind fifth-running Pachanga-Diliman, which collides with relegation-threatened Philippine Air Force in the first game set at 5:15 p.m.
The ninth-running Airmen, who are just two points ahead of Army, hope to move further away from direct relegation territory.

spin

Ceres ready for final battle as Davao intensifies lineup

Sweeping the qualifying round and getting past Iloilo in the semifinals with a 2-0 win yesterday, NOFA Ceres-La Salle is on the brink of clinching the 2013 PFF Suzuki Men’s National U23 title in Dumaguete City.
Standing on its path is Davao FA, who brought in a couple of reinforcements from Manila for tomorrow’s championship match at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Stadium. Davao advanced to the final round by beating North Cotabato, 1-0, in the semis.
“We came prepared for this tournament and we are ready for Davao. We played against them in our bracket and we are familiar with their system,” Ceres coach Ali Go said.
The team he said will be doubling their efforts as Davao has brought in a couple of players from Manila to beef up their lineup.
One of the reinforcements, Go said, is Amani Aguinaldo, a known defender from Far Eastern University and was a member of the national U21 team.
In their previous encounter in the qualifying round, Ceres beat Davao, 5-0.
Ceres will be playing for the championship minus J Baguioro, who was charged with his second yellow card in yesterday’s match against Iloilo.
While Baguioro is definitely a great loss in the final battle, Go said they will the necessary adjustment as there are players in the Ceres lineup who are ready to fill the post.
NOFA Ceres eliminate Iloilo yesterday despite a frustrating performance in the first half.
“It was a disappointing first half as the team played very bad. There were several close attempts that were not completed,” Go said.
Still, Ceres-La Salle prevailed as Jimuel Ariola scored a headed cross in the 50th minute and Joshua Beloya neatly sending a bender near the penalty area into the goal in the 70th minute.
Ceres started yesterday with Benito Rosalia, Jimmy Malalo-an, Anthony Tongson, Rey Mark Fernandez, Ian Agraviador, Baguioro, Joel Bedia, Prince Antony, Beloya, Jinggoy Valmayor, Ariola, and John Bolo.*NAB

Visayan Daily Star

Losing finalist wants champ disqualified

By Cheska D. Geli

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

THE University of San Carlos–Basic Education Department (USC-BED) 
wants the Dynamo FC stripped of its 11-under title for allegedly fielding 
ineligible players in the 13th Cebu Interclub Football Cup.

Dennis Peñalosa, Dynamo FC coach, did not issue a comment when 
contacted by Sun.StarCebu but instead referred the matter to the 
Cebu Amateur Football Club, which organized the tournament. However, 
CAFC president Greg Balsicas couldn’t be reached at press time.

In a letter written by Guadalupe Arganza, the wife of USC-BED coach Edwin, 
Dynamo FC reportedly fielded Loui Arreglo, Jules Eribal and James Baring
 in the tournament.

According to Arganza, the three were born in 2002 and didn’t pass the
 2003 cut-off for the division.

Arganza said it was another coach, Alex Ballesteros of Centcom 
Warshocks, who brought the three’s ineligibility to the organizers.

Ballesters said that although these players were not in the official 
lineup submitted by the team, the three were seen playing for Dynamo 
in the 11-Under division.

Arganza also said that before Ballesteros submitted a written complaint 
to CAFC, San Roque and Cebu Players 10 elite team head coach 
Totot Colina already filed a protest to the organizers after he saw 
Arreglo play. 
Colina said he knows Arreglo’s age since the boy was under him 
when he was part of the Players 10 category of the Cebu elite selection.

Because of the fielding of the three players, CAFC gave Peñalosa a 
two-game suspension, causing him to miss the semifinal and finals 
match in the 11-under division. However, he was still allowed to coach
 in the other brackets and the players under protest were allowed to play.

Arganza said the penalty is not enough.

“I believe that the team must be sanctioned or disqualfied. They do not 
deserve to be declared winners because they have a pending protest 
and they did not win by fair means. How could it be an honest mistake 
when it involved three 
over-aged players?” Arganza said in her letter.

Cebu Football Association board member Raffy Musngi said the 
protest will be tackled in the next board meeting together 
with all theprotests during the interclub.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on May 30, 2013.