IT WAS supposed to be a walk in the park for the Palaro bound Northern Mindanao elementary boys football team when they joined the 15th Thirsty Cup Football Festival in Cebu City over the weekend.
But the team which was divided into two to allow maximum exposure for the kids in the 7-Aside one day tournament faced the little giants of Barotac Nuevo Iloilo and twice they failed.
First it was the strong Northern Mindanao team A, who met the Ilongos first in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately the Barotac boys ran over the Oro kids 2-0 to advance to the semis and then a final showdown against the Northern Mindanao team B.
The Northern Mindanao team B boys were just lucky they did not meet the Barotac boys early in the playoffs. Team B had easier task winning over University of San Carlos team B, 1-0, then against Classico San Carlos City, 1-0, in the quarter finals and against Guisseppe FC, 2-0, in the semis to arrange a final showdown against Barotac.
The Barotac boys were two classy and skillful for the Northern Mindnaao kids as they dominated them in the first half scoring a go ahead goal early to take a 1-0 lead and the championship trophy.
The Northern Mindanao team B kids composed mostly of players from Rosevale School in Cagayan de Oro City came back to life with John Quinito and Iverson Sambaan leading the charge up front in the second half as Quinito had two attempts in the dying minutes but his shots all went wide.
Sambaan, a prize find from Pagatpat Elementary School had a breakout tournament as he scored three goals in the knockout stages. He scored the winning goals against University of San Carlos, Classico San Carlos City, and one of the goals against Guisseppe FC. Quinito scored the insurance goal in the semis.
Barotac is the Brazil of the Philippines having developed some of the football legends of our country like Elmer Bedia, Chieffy Caligdong, and many others. Their players were quick on their feet and were exceptionally skillful. They were also fit and fast.
Members of the Northern Mindanao team B were McDo Acoon, Terence Mayne, John Quinito, Ethan Luke Biantan, Von Quinito, Lorenzo Gue, Kyle Chaves, Iverson Sambaan, Jrand Hortilano, Farhan Labay and Jared Tan.
Team A was made up of James Alado, Carlo Bongocan, Earl Cotamora, Rawin Gementiza, Mamat Cascara, Andy Lugod, Aaron Magadan, and Sam Salingay and Xander Sabio. Coaching both teams were Mario Sumampong and Dennis Bongocan.
It was a sorry early exit for Northern Mindanao team A as they lost Alado and Manubag to illness and injury. Fatigue then hit them late in the second half in the championship with reliable players Mamat Cascara, and Aaron Magadan suffering from muscle cramps.
Without the four key players on the pitch they still managed to contain Barotac’s attacks and allowed only two goals.
“It was a very good preparation for team Northern Mindanao. Now I know the weakness of the team. We have to improve our fitness. We still have time and we will be prepared when we fly to Vigan,” said coach Mario Sumampong.
The Northern Mindanao team is made up mostly of players from Cagayan de Oro City and beefed up by players from Iligan, Gingoog, and Valencia. The Cagayan de Oro based players are now training daily at the Rosevale School field at Xavier Estates. The entire team will start their training camp in the second week of March.
The team will fly to Vigan City Ilocos Sur with the Northern Mindanao delegation early April. The Palaro will start on April 15.