PUERTO PRINCESA — Banking on the offensive brilliance of John Kenneth Eclevia, Puerto Princesa stunned fancied Negros Occidental 3-1 Thursday to capture the boys Under-17 futsal crown in the Batang Pinoy National Championships at the Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex here.
With a roster of footballers transformed by Bethel Senior High School mentor Tony Austria into futsal players in barely a month, the Palawan campaigners were the more hungry team led by the nimble and wily Eclevia.
Eclevia ran rings around his defenders, scoring a hat trick in the first half with goals in the ninth, sixth, and two minutes as the hosts completed a seven-game sweep of the tournament for their first futsal plum in the meet organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Negros Occidental, which drew 2-2 with Puerto Princesa in their preliminary clash, had its only goal Gian Tzaddi Bacomo in the 16th minute while settling for runner-up honors.
PH Under-17 squad members Ushin Joi Valencia and Jelena Loren Soon scored a goal each for Cebu City in the seventh and 20th minutes, respectively, to blank Davao del Oro 2-0 in securing the girls Under-17 girls futsal title of the sportsfest supported by the Puerto Princesa City government led by Lucilo Bayron.
Pangasinan swamped Bago City 4-1 while Olongapo City outplayed San Carlos City 3-1 in securing the boys and girls Under-15 futsal championships, respectively, on the last day of the group sports showcase also supported by Milo, Pocari Sweat, and Summit Mineral Water.
"We were actually surprised in winning the championship since all of them are football players it was only in late October that we began practicing as a team," noted Austria, smiling. "We would have not won this title if it was not played here."
"Puerto Princesa was the better and hungrier team today. They outplayed us so give them credit. You win some and you lose some," said Negros Occidental assistant coach Robel Ramos.
Also pleased by Pangasinan's triumph in the boys Under-15 futsal division was Pangasinan Football Association general secretary Leo Arnaiz, who revealed that some of the team's players were hurt, including goalkeeper Al Rhajiv Roldan.
"Roldan injured his elbow on the eve of the match but we believed that this was our time and thank God we won," Arnaiz, also a former general secretary of the Philippine Football Federation, said.
He credited Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III, also the Pangasinan FA president, for this all-out support for the squad's success after bagging the bronze medal in the BP Nationals in Manila last year.
Futsal tournament director Allan Ramirez, a technical official of the Philippine Football Federation, noted that the overall play of the close to 100 squads from all over the country was quite promising.
"Considering that the country will host the first FIFA Women's World Futsal Cup next year, this shows that there is a following for the sport with the huge number of teams here," Ramirez said.
Over at the RVM pool, Arveen Naeem Taguinota II capped his successful campaign by leading Pasig to victory in the boys 12 to 13-year-old 4x50-meter relay in two minutes and .03.67 seconds.
The prolific swimmer picked up his sixth gold medal, counting the four individual golds he won earlier, to go along with a silver medal to be adjudged as the most outstanding swimmer in the 16th edition of the competition.
Taguinota's superb outing underscored the dominance of the Pasig tankers, who amassed 11 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze medals in securing the overall title in the sport.
Quezon City was a close second (10-14-7), San Fernando, La Union was third (7-4-1), Pampanga fourth (6-3-4), and Taguig fifth (5-2-4).
In badminton, Mandaue City picked up a pair of golds in the 12 to 14-year-old boys and girls and doubles events.
Mandaue's Vince Kerdy Rio and Jermielle Andrae Rolos topped the Tarlac pair of Rye Joshua Nobleza and Rajan Jirou Pasco 31-17, while their teammates Elaikha Marie Canillo and Nica Ysabel Gulpany beat the Laguna's Roshie Mae Quierez and Rhoanne Sabarillo 31-23.
General Santos City's Jash Elwood Septin subdued Davao City's Evan Lentejas 31-23 while Tacloban's Maria Nicole Notorio defeated Cadiz City's Valerie Marcial 31-29 for the boys and girls 12-14-year-old titles, respectively. PR