THE Cagayan de Oro’s Futsal team showed everyone that the girls of coach Paul Cabio are ready for the coming Northern Mindanao Regional Football Association (NMRAA) meet in Tubod, Lanao de Norte on December 8 to 12.
This, after they beat Iligan City Football Club (ICFC), 5-0, in the Pinay In Action (PIA) Bulua Fiesta Futsal Festival tournament on Sunday, December 1, at the Bulua gym, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.
The ICFC girls of coach Emmanuel Judith were powered by the ageless Nice Jonayon and bull-strong goal keeper Mea Ravalo at the offense and defense, respectively.
Jonayon and Ravalo were long time football players in Cagayan de Oro and were picked up by coach Judith to beef up his mostly Iligan City-based squad.
It was their first return to Futsal since shifting to Dragon Boat rowing last year.
ICFC put up a gallant stand at the start but as soon as winger Liezel Ann Catamco of Bulua National High School scored the first goal early in the first half it was all downhill for the Iligan girls.
Then, tournament top scorer Chantal Van Ommeren scored two straight goals and Malaika Chavez added two to complete the rout and secure the win.
Van Ommeren won the Top Scorer of the tournament award, Catamco the Best Winger, and Chavez the Best Forward (Pivot).
ICFC tried to rally in the second half but the strong defense of goalkeeper Chavonne Uy and defender Gail Loking at the back preserved the CdO girls of another clean sheet.
The clean sheet gave Uy the Best Goalkeeper award and Loking the Best Defender award.
“They were quick and strong. We failed to contain them specially Chantal. They deserve to win,” said ICFC coach Emmanuel Judith after the game.
The CdO girls won medals, t-shirts, Futsal balls and a trophy courtesy of tournament sponsor Senator Pia Cayetano. The special awardees also won one medal and a t-shirt each.
“We are ready for the regional meet,” said CdO Girls team coach Paul Cabio.
The regional meet is tough but Cabio is undaunted.
“I am more worried of the team. The greatest enemy of the girls are themselves, their doubts and fears of under performing and not winning. But I believe they are already 90 percent ready,” he said.
The CdO Girls advanced to the championship when they trounced Stonefield FC of Ozamis City, 5-1, in the semis. In the elimination round they won over ICFC 1-0, Rosevale FC 3-0, but lost to the Lady Crusaders 1-2.
The CdO Girls team included Angel Kaye Buendia, Alexa Cristy Cailing, Bianca Razon, Ashley Sostinto, and Trixa Marie Sostinto. The CdO team which will join the Regional meet will include Zippy Medalla and Fiona Mae Anoos from Xavier University minus Ashley Sostinto.
Medalla and Anoos played for the Lady Crusaders in this tournament. The Lady Crusaders failed to advance to the semis.
The ICFC Girls made it to the final after besting Bulua Strikers 2-0. However, Bulua moved to the semis after a higher goal difference over the Lady Crusaders.
The Bulua Strikers topped the Girls 12 category after sweeping the other three teams. Golden Friendship FC bags the runner-up honor, Georgia Academy third and Lumbia Raptors FC came in fourth.
Bulua Strikers also dominated the special awards with Stephanie Martinez winning the Best Pivot award, Carol Jane Lantaya the Best Defender award, Aliyah Surposa the Best Goalkeeper award, and Queency Love Canaman the Best Winger Award. Martinez also won the Top Scorer award.
Sunsport is the official ball, while the official media partner is SunStar CDO. Other sponsors are CDRMC, CdO vice mayor Kikang Uy, Misamis Oriental governor Bambi Emano and RM Go Hardware.