Dipolog back on track for Suzuki U23 Cup Quarterfinals

 Jerry Barbaso, national player and midfielder for Dipolog, ditched two defenders to go one-on-one with the CDO keeper for a nifty fake and goal.

Dipolog back on track for Suzuki U23 Cup Quarterfinals

story and pic by rick olivares

Dipolog bounced back in a big way when it thrashed Cagayan de Oro 6-0 on the second day of the Mindanao Regionals of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup at the Agro Field in Davao.

After being thoroughly outplayed the day before by Davao which won 3-0 to take the early lead in the four-team elimination round, Dipolog coach Reginald Jukes moved former national player Jerry Barbaso from the back four into a central midfield position. The switch galvanized Dipolog as Barbaso repeatedly dispossessed Cagayan’s midfielders while feeding striker Michael Tulang who scored four goals in the first half including a brilliant set piece from 30 yards out that grazed the crossbar and bounced right in.

Tulang is the older brother of Morris John Tulang who plays for Dumaguete.

Cagayan de Oro which drew with North Cotobato 1-1 the day earlier fell into a bind as they will face powerhouse Davao on Saturday, the final day of the Mindanao Regionals.

Only two teams will advance from the Mindanao group to participate in the quarterfinals that will simultaneously take place from May 6-10 in Laguna and Bacolod. Two teams from Visayas, Luzon, and the National Capital Region will join them in the single round knockout affair to determine the four semi-finalists.

The top four teams will clash in the semis on May 15 and 16 at Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

Barbaso, who was relegated to the Azkals’ training pool prior to the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar last month sent a powerful cross inside the Cagayan box in the 10^th minute. Cagayan’s defenders Marco David Popranciano and keeper Charles Villarta had two chances to clear the ball but their shoddy work landed right in front of Tulang who simply tapped it in for the first goal.

Eight minutes later, Tulang beat the slow-footed Cagayan central defenders to head the ball over an onrushing Villarta.

Tulang reprised his earlier effort when he chipped the ball over Villarta in the 30^th minute to put Dipolog up 3-nil.

The elder Tulang matched his younger brother’s four goals against Leyte in the Visayas Regionals with his set piece strike.

In the second half, Barbaso showed his speed and dribbling skills when he beat Familiano Mabales and Jeffrey Miaco in succession to go one-on-one with Villarta who had no chance. 5-nil Dipolog.

Dipolog nearly doubled their first half output when LT Marcojos and Ranando Mantua Jr. added a spot kick and a poacher’s goal in the 67^th and the 78^th minute to make it 7-0.

Cagayan de Oro’s Mico John Palarca pulled back one in the 85^th minute when he drove through the suddenly lax Dipolog defense but it was a little too late.


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With Dipolog coach Reginald Jukes and utility player Jerry Barbaso.