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Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Iloilo keeps hope alive
By Lynde Salgados
Games today (March 8)
7:30 am CMOFA vs Davao
9:30 am Laguna vs Iloilo
2:00 pm Quezon vs NCR
4:00 pm Negros vs Zambo
THE flag carriers of "football country" Iloilo restored hope of still making it into the top-four when it blasted host Cagayan de 0ro/Misamis 0riental, 5-0 yesterday and then watched as Group A co-leader Laguna edge Davao by a breather, 1-0 in the ongoing 2005 PFF-Adidas National Men's Championship here at Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.
The result put pressure on the shoulders of Laguna booters as a loss to Iloilo in their 9:30 am tussle this morning will give the latter a slot into the semis thanks to its overwhelming goals scored against the host.
"Delikado sa tiebreak ang Laguna kahit na matalo lang sila ng isang goal laban sa Iloilo dahil sa 5-0 advantage na nakuha nila nitong umaga (Monday morning) sa CDO-Misor. Sa opening day eh isang goal lang din ang nasungkit ng Laguna sa kanilang panalo over the home team so, nasa kritikal talaga ang kanilang kalagayan," said tournament commissioner Pablito Araneta.
Iloilo's first goal, delivered by Kinley Delgado in first half injury time, dampened the spirit of CMOFA.
From then on, six yellow cards plus a costly red card on John Derek Sahirani became the host's downfall. Iloilo's Paolo Roman Suner (59thminute), Delgado (62nd), Kent Gobuyan (87) and Clint Gobuyan (90) blasted four more goals into the back of the net to eliminate the hosts from this year's title race.
Jeoffrey Lobaton wiggled out from a phalanx of Davao defenders to volley the winning goal just six meters from the goal mouth in the 49th minute to guarantee Laguna a good fight for the next stage. Laguna has barely won all its matches in Group A.
Sunday's double-header was a real show of might and power for title favorites Negros Occidental-Victorias Sardines and NCR-Philippine Navy who are both drawn in Group B.
Negros did not frustrate a throng of Ilonggo-speaking fans that trooped at the venue as it bucked a sluggish start to whip Quezon province, 2-0 courtesy of Joshua Fegidero's double whammy in the 28th and 57th minutes.
"We have a very tight game `coz masyadong gigil ang mga bata. Well and good that it was not NCR whom we're playing with, though we expect them in the finals," said Negros coach Norman Fegidero, who has a Belgian in his roster in 6-foot-tall Wouter Delbaere of Dumaguete University.
More impressive was NCR's 3-0 thrashing of Zamboanga beefed up by three Turkey nationals in Er Tahir, Dikmen Furkan and Tamer Baydogan who was replaced in the second half due to minor injury.
Striker Jimmy Doņa accounted for two goals in the 38th and 86th minutes as Marlon Pinero knocked his own off a penalty kick in the 50th minute for the defending champion's dominating start.
Said NCR coach Edward Joel Anthony: "Of course, we're also wary of Negros' presence because we considered them as our toughest obstacle to defend the crown we won last year in Manila."
Negros and NCR were still battling, as of press time for Group B supremacy with striker Al Borromeo just arriving from Manila to solidify the NCR's frontline.
A son of NCR Football Association president Jose Vito, Anthony said the younger Borromeo will add firepower in their quest for a back-to-back title.
(March 8, 2005 issue)
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