Davao FA beats Rifa Manila, 4-1

By Ruji Peter S. Abat

Thursday, April 19, 2012

DEFENDING champion Davao Football Association (DFA) U13 girls team opened its title defense on a high note by beating Rizal Football Association (Rifa) Manila, 4-1, on Thursday at the start of the Philippine U13 Girls Selection Tournament held at the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium in Mansilungan, Bacolod City.

Philippine Academy of Sakya bet Zuleika Yee scored two goals while teammate Moira Calizo and Tambayan Football Club standout Elizabeth Santos added one goal apiece.

DFA U13 girls head coach Reynalyn Ravanes, in a phone conversation with Sun.Star Davao on Thursday, said she assigned Sofia Paredes to apply a man-to-man defense against RFI-Manila striker Annika Castañeda to prevent their opponent from scoring.

The team was still playing home crowd favorite Bacolod Football Association as of press time.

Ravanes said they will utilize the off-side trap against Bacolod to prevent them from getting open shots.

The team is also bannered by Bea Deluna, Joannah Adao, Patricia Francisco, Therese Reyes, Kyra Gabnete, Kyra Paronda, Michaela Co, Drew Datumanong, Sonia Paredes, Jade Carasig, Arwen Allado, Felice Tuazon, Joyce Semacio, Kim Villacencio with Analou Ingles and Mica Corrales as assistant coaches.

Five teams are entered in the single round-robin format tournament including San Carlos City and Dumaguete City.

DFA women's committee chairperson Rachelle Delos Reyes, in text messages, said the tournament shall apply the regular scoring system where a win is worth three points, a draw one point and zero for a loss.

The bootfest serves as selection of players for the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U13 Girls Festival of Football set on June 5 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.


Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on April 20, 2012.