Bacolod tops Leyte 11-nil to finish atop Visayas Regionals

This appears in the Wednesday April 19, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

Bacolod tops Leyte 11-nil to finish atop Visayas Regionals

by rick olivares

With their arch rivals Iloilo watching from the sidelines, Bacolod rubbed their 1-nil triumph over their neighbors last Tuesday by lighting up hapless Leyte 11-nil to finish atop the Visayas Regional Qualifiers of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup with an immaculate 4-0 record to receive the maximum 12 points. In those four victories, goalkeepers John Mendoza and Jurex Replentes kept clean sheets as Team Bacolod also scored 18 goals.

Up against tournament novice Leyte which was winless and goalless in three matches, Bacolod showed no mercy and flexed it muscles.

They also underscored their depth and talent. As it was in their match against Cebu, Bacolod coach Norman Fegidero Jr. started his bench. The reserves proved that they were more than just relievers as super sub Joshua Beloya sparked his side to a 4-0 lead after 45 minutes of play.

Beloya’s fellow reserve Ralph Layumas also scored alongside starter Jovin Bedic.

In the second half, it was a turkey shoot as Bacolod peppered Leyte goalkeeper Ferdinand Fortaliza with shots from everywhere. The smoke cleared after 45 minutes of continuous aerial bombardment and Bacolod stood triumphant 11-0. Beloya scored four goals to accomplish the same feat that Dumaguete’s Morris John Tulang against Leyte in their opening day encounter. Tulang added a fifth score when he put a penalty shot in the back of the net against Cebu yesterday to hike his total to five. But Beloya, the quiet midfielder with a sublime touch and powerful boot, four plus the one each he scored against Cebu and Dumaguete gave him a finally count of six goals.

Teammates Jovin Bedic and Adrian Dolino each contributed a brace while Carmelo Tacusalme, Jay Baguioro, and Layumas also added a successful strike each.

“Personally na achieve naming as a group in Bacolod what we set out to do,” said a happy Fegidero after the match. “And that was to top our regionals. Now that we will be hosting the next leg and with the home crowd on our side, we have a great opportunity to show what we can do and that some of my players can join the senior men’s national team to the Southeast Asian Games later this year.”

Bacolod is said to be the host for the next stage of the competition with the games reportedly to be held in Panaad

Fegidero also singled out Tacusalme and Dolino for their consistency throughout the campaign. “They are,” gushed the Bacolod coach, “our best players. It would be good for them to be noticed and that they may play for the national team.”

Leyte was winless in four matches. To make matters worse for themselves, they gave up a shocking 24 goals in four matches.