MEMBERS of the victorious Bacolod United Football Club are looking forward to defending their title next year in a bigger tournament.

It was learned that the team captured the championship last weekend of the Philippines-Malaysia Veterans Football Championship at the Panaad Sports and Recreational park pitch.

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Former RP team standouts Alfredo "Bambi" Dioso Jr. and Norman Fegidero Jr. told Sun.Star Bacolod they look forward to see action in a "much bigger event next year, which will hopefully be participated by more teams from other parts of the country and abroad."

"The excitement of playing against players from other countries like the Malay Mail is indeed something worth cherishing and I hope that this will not be the first and the last Philippines-Malaysia veterans tournament," said Fegidero, who in 1991, scored the lone goal that eliminated Malaysia in the biennial Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

For his part, Dioso, a teammate of Fegidero in that RP lineup that scored the historical first-ever win by the Philippines over Malaysia in an international competition, said he looks forward to a much bigger tournament next year.

"Hopefully, there will be more teams not only from Malaysia but also from other cities in the country like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Iloilo and Dumaguete. It would be nice to play in a truly national tournament with guest teams from abroad like Malay Mail also participating," Dioso stressed.

Bacolod United FC, mentored by playing coach Reynaldo Dofitas, prevailed over Malay Mail, 3-2, in a come-from-behind win for the championship of the RP-Malaysia four-team series last Sunday with Fegidero scoring two goals and Greg Gustilo booting in the goal that sealed the win for the home side.

Members of the victorious BUFC side are Raymando Baldava, Dennis De Asis, Simon Hulleza, Arnel Sagansay, Nicolas Kalalang, Rommel Kalalang, Jonathan Esmolo, Alfredo 'Bambi" Dioso Jr., Nestor Dela Cruz, Ronnie Tornilla, Norman Fegidero Jr., Greg Gustilo, Ronald Gustilo, Lorenzo Litonjua, Enrique Misa, Leo Arnaiz, Benjamin Vedra, Edwin Borromeo, Enrique Barcelona, Fr. Broderick Segovia, and Reynaldo Dofitas.