Monday, April 30, 2007 NegOcc XI downs Cotabato booters By Henry C. Villalva
REIGNING champion Negros Occidental found North Cotabato quite a tough nut to crack in the early goings Saturday but went to veterans Arnie Pasinabo and Norman Fegidero, Jr. to secure the semi-final victory and arrange a repeat finals encounter with arch rival National Capital Region Sunday for the 2007 Centennial Edition crown of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) National Open Men's Championship at the Panaad Stadium pitch.
Pasinabo efficiently and patiently patrolled the right wing against the insistent prowling of the title-hungry North Cotabato booters and waited for the right moment to score his first tournament goal in the 67th minute following some anxious moments that saw the host squander at least fie crucial opportunities to make the go-ahead tally.
Then, the 37-year old hero of the 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games used guile and instinct to convert a blast from in front of the goal mouth following a scramble for possession in the 78th minute to seal the win, a victory which was obviously ensured by some brilliant saves by last year's Best Goalkeeper awardee Archie John Bayquin at the other end.
The Negrenses were obviously denied a third goal when the prolific Floriano Pacilan Jr., who was on the way to make a breakaway goal in the dying minutes was prevented from doing so by over-eager referee Allan Martinez who blew the whistle to end the match discounting what appeared to be a clear goal-making opportunity.
Earlier, NCR had to go through a penalty shootout against hard-fighting Iloilo to nail the other finals berth after drawing with the Ilonggos, 1-1, at the end of the regulation and 3-3 after extension.
Jovan Simpron broke the ice for Iloilo in the 80th while Randy Belaong equalized for NCR to send the match to overtime.
RP team standout Emelio Caligdong converted both goals for NCR in overtime in the 2nd and 18th minutes while Iloilo got goals from Antonio Albor, Jr., in the 11th and Simpron in the 19th.
NCR triumphed, 8-6, in the penalty shootout via goal from Caligdong, Harold Bayona, Fabien Dubols, Alvin Ocampo, Johanne Sablon, Belaong, Joel Bermejo and Ian Araneta.
Iloilo's goals were courtesy of Simpron, Albor, Raymund Juarez, Tommy Escollero, Cyril Estrellanes and Ruben Doctora, Jr.
Iloilo and North Cotabato were slated to tangle for third place yesterday at 4 p.m. followed by the title match between NCR and host Negros Occidental at 7 p.m. in this centerpiece PFF event hosted by the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) headed by Representative Carlos O. Cojuangco (4th district, Negros Occidental) in cooperation with the Province of Negros Occidental.
