ERCO BRO Gau will unleash the big guns in the match that matters the most—the championships. Erco BRO Gau is bringing in United Football League players for the Men’s Open championship match of the 17th Aboitiz Football Cup against Leylam FC today at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
The reinforcements are headed by former Philippine national team player Chieffy Caligdong, who will be coming in along with his Green Archers United (GAU) FC teammates Paolo Pascual, Azkals Under-23 team member Ronnie Aguisanda and Reynald Villareal. Former national team striker Ian Araneta and Mark Ferrer of Air Force FC and Allan Auman of Manil All-Japan will also beef up the squad along with two players from San Carlos City– Diomar Caruscay and Siegfried Apurado.
“Yes, it’s their first time playing in this tournament. Knowing their skills, heart and attitude toward the game, I’m sure that they will put on a good performance and boost the morale of the team and also the fans,” Erco FC team manager Rodney Orale told Sun.Star Cebu.
Erco BRO Gau is already a dominant team but it will be much deeper with the reinforcements. Erco BRO Gau topped Group C with 12 points from a 4-0 slate and is still undefeated until this stage of the tournament. Erco BRO Gau earned a ticket to the championships following a 7-3 victory over sister squad Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Erco BRO in the semifinals.
Even though the reinforcements haven’t played a single match all season, Orale assured that they were with the team from the beginning of the 17th Aboitiz Football Cup and also last year.
“Yes, all of them heve been there from the start of the tournament. They were also in the original line-up of our Smart Club team last year,” he said.
Leylam FC is just as talented as Erco BRO Gau and also advanced to the final stage of the annual tournament with ease. Leylam FC also finished at the top of Group A also with 12 points from a 4-0 record. Leylam FC advanced to the finals with a 4-1 beating of Don Bosco United FC (DBUFC). Leylam FC, however, would lose Madi Nji in the process after being slapped with a one match suspension when he got into an altercation with DUFC’s Bong Aller.
Despite losing a key player and Erco BRO Gau’s UFL reinforcements, Leylam FC is unmoved.
“Good for them,” said Leylam FC head coach Oliver Colina. “It will be a very good match. I can’t say that it is an advantage for us (that the reinforcements haven’t played together with the team). But what I can say is that we will give them a good fight.”
Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley, Azkals team manager Dan Palami and Azkals player Misagh Bahadoran will be special guests for today’s championship match at 2:30 p.m.
DBTC Erco BRO faces off with DBUFC in the battle-for-third match at 12:30 p.m.
On the other hand, Accenture defends the Men’s Inter-BPO title against Voice Connect in finals match at 9 a.m., which will simultaneously be played with the battle-for-third match between Timex and NCR at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu football pitch.