NCR B hangs on, but A doesn't

BACOLOD—National Capital Region Team B settled down in their second match and put themselves back into contention for a semifinals berth with a 1-0 win over opening-day winner Masbate in the Philippine Football Federation Suzuki Under-23 National Cup on Sunday.

But as one NCR team got going, another was ousted from the quarterfinals.

Davao ousted NCR Team A with a 4-0 thrashing at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños in Laguna.

NCR B Striker Don Rabaya blasted home a rebound past Masbate ’keeper Anthony Albao after a superb long distance set piece by NCR’s Jess Melliza in the 22nd minute.

The Manila eleven, which bowed 1-2, to Bacolod on opening day, showed more fluidity and creativity in their attack with Stephen Permanes, Jay Eusebio and Nathaniel Alquiros starting in the midfield. With defender David Basa linking up on the attack, NCR dominated large stretches of the first half.

Instead of buckling under pressure, Masbate regrouped and forced NCR into a series of long balls that never served any purpose.

The reset found NCR once more dominating the match.

Striker Ojay Clarino and midfielder Yannick Tuason were sent in by coach Hans Smit and their pace and energy galvanized the attack.

NCR thought it tacked on another goal following a Clarino tap in when the ’keeper dropped another Melliza blast but the linesman whistled the former for offside that drew immediate protests from the NCR coaching staff.

“That’s twice we’ve been victimized by a bad call,” lamented Smit. “That could hurt us with the goal difference.”

Davao, the Mindanao regional leader, came out with a lot more intensity after nearly losing to Laguna in its opening match.

Said ’keeper RS Mantos, “We were embarrassed and we agreed to play with a lot more heart and intensity.”

The Davaoeños, coached by Alvic Troyo, scored first with an outside volley by midfielder Nur Mentang in the 22nd minute.

And after NCR defender Enzo Bonoan was sent off with a red card for a reckless tackle, Davao poured it on.

Al-dina Tiburon added the insurance goal in the 57th minute, Joven Benitez and Reyelle Pino tacked on two more goals in the 72nd and 89th minutes as a second NCR player, forward Matteo Yuhico, was red-carded.

In the main match at the Laguna group quarterfinals, the home side drew 1-1 with fancied Iloilo.

A Lawrence Gatasi strike in the 67th minute saw Laguna go up as they outplayed Iloilo. But head coach Marjo Allado’s boys leveled the match in the 82nd on midfielder Michael Poras’s goal.

The Ilonggos destroyed NCR Team A in their first game, 7-0.

(Rick Olivares)

Business Mirror