Tuesday, May 01, 2007 NCRFA bags crown By Henry C. Villalva
DEFENDING champion Negros Ocidental lost their composure early in the second period and allowed last year's runner-up National Capital Region to come from behind to grab the championship crown of the 2007 Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Centennial National Men's Open series, 2-1, Sunday(April 29)evening at the Panaad Stadium pitch in Barangay Mansilingan.
"I think we lost our composure, we lost our focus when NCR scored their second goal and due to the pressure of needing to score the equalizer we hurried things up and made mistakes," said team captain Norman Fegidero, Jr. who was substituted in the 51st minute by PJ Serios.
Striker Floriano Pacilan, Jr. scored his first goal of the tournament to break the ice for the Negrenses in the 15th minute sending the Panaad home crowd to a frenzy.
But Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo native Yanti Bersales equalized for NCR in the 46th minute and RP team campaigner Ian Araneta scored the winning goal in the 73rd.
"It was a well deserved win. NCR was the team that committed fewer mistakes," said visiting Uruguayan coach Maor Rozen who is slated to conduct a coaches clinic for Negrese coaches next week.
NCR thus avenged their 2-1 loss to the Negrenses in the final of the same event last year in Iloilo City. National team standout Emelio Caligdong, who was later named MVP of the tournament, was able to weave his way almost at will during the entire match as the Negros Occidental defense and midfield failed to contain the wily striker who made a big difference for the Metro Manilans especially following the exit of Fegidero and winger Arnie Pasinabo who was replaced by Jason Panhay in the 81st minute.
Negrense keeper Archie Bayquin however provided the spark for his side with a gallant goalkeeping performance that earned for him for the second straight year the Best Goalkeeper plum.
Other individual awardees were NCR's Jobel Bermejo (Best Defender), and Iloilo's Raymund Juarez and Ruben Doctora as Best Midfielder and Best Scorer, respectively.
Iloilo earlier took third place honors after routing North Cotabato, 5-0.
The Chris Monfort Fair Play Award also went to Iloilo. PFF president Johnny Romualdez, President Emeritus Atty. Rene Z. Adad and Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) president Representative Carlos O. Cojuangco (fourth district, Negros Occidental) awarded the medals and trophies after the title match.
