KENNETH Guion disappointed his South District team in last year’s Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association (COAA) football final against perennial rival West 1 when he was sent off that cost them the title.
This time he kept his cool and even played hero when he led South District in a shootout win over West 1 after a scoreless regulation in the final match at the Rosevale School field at the Xavier Estates field.
He scored his own penalty shot and then stopped Christian Zorilla’s penalty in the battle of goalkeepers to assure South District’s place in the NMRAA meet set here in CdO in the second week of December.
It was a sweet win for the South booters of coach Webbie Racines. They were manned by players from his Corpus Christi School and St. Mary’s School. The setback was a disappointment for coach Dennis Bongocan whose team was made up of players from his Rosevale School, Xavier University and Liceo de Cagayan de Oro.
The West 1 district however, did not go home empty handed as its elementary team of solid Rosevale School lineup whipped the South team, 5-0 to claim the elementary division title.
Two goals from ace striker Sam Salingay, one goal each from Mamat Cascara and Anton Bongocan plus a penalty goal from Aaron Magadan sealed their entry into the NMRAA meet.
The boys of coach Mario Sumampong dominated the championship match from start to finish that the South team of coach Webbie Racines did not have response. The West 1 boys were too good and too big for the smaller and less impressive South players.
Coach Mario even had the luxury of sending all his second stringers early in the second half when central defender Aaron Magadan sealed their victory with a booming penalty shot after winger Vinson Manubag was fouled inside the box.
It was literally a bloody, rough and thrilling match between the West 1 boys and the South lads from start to finish in the secondary division title match.
The South lads led by players from Corpus Christi High School pushed forward in the first half with striker Peejay Celdran and Carl Factoranan leading the charge. They however failed to find the back of the net as goalkeeper Christian Zorilla from Rosevale School had some decent saves.
It was a different story in the second half as the South lads started to get tired and West 1 pushed forward. Striker Jeff Bayron almost scored twice for West 1 after getting some crosses from right winger Vince Wong and out sprinting South District’s defenders. He however failed to score twice when his shots were just inches away from the goal posts.
Two West 1 players also failed to finish the match with Stephen Baitan suffering gash above his left eyebrow after a collision with a South midfielder. Shifty winger Van Arvil Orate also did not finish the match after suffering a sore rib bone.
But it was a well deserving win for the South lads despite of the failure of the referee to control the match which was stopped several times because of rough plays from both sides. Luckily cooler heads prevailed and match officials decided not to extend the after regulation time ended to prevent more injuries to players.
(l.biantan@gmail.com)