Dipolog qualifies for U23 Cup quarters

This appears in the Monday May 2, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

Dipolog qualifies for U23 Cup quarters

Cast complete for next stage

by rick olivares

TIONGKO FIELD, Davao City -- Dipolog formalized their entry into the quarterfinals of the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup with a 3-nil demolition job on hardluck North Cotobato at the Tiongko Field in Davao City.

National team player Jerry Barbaso made a strong case for a return to active duty by putting his imprint on Dipolog’s first three goals that snuffed the fight out of the visitors.

In the 37^th minute, Barbaso, moved to central midfield by Dipolog’s English head coach Reginald Jukes in their 7-1 whitewashing of Cagayan de Oro the day before, dispossessed a Cotobato player of the ball. Barbaso pressed forward and found line mate Emerlito Alcalde lingering just outside the box. With two defenders crowding him, Alcalde swung the ball to left-winger Sergio Pellerin who ran up in support. Pellerin lofted a well placed cross inside the box that midfielder Sparke Española headed past North Cotobato keeper James Alloro.

Three minutes later, Barbaso’s set piece from 30 yards out curled around the wall and veered right back in. The ball dipped and Alloro, caught flat-footed, had no chance. Two-nil Dipolog.

And with two minutes left before the half and North Cotobato sorely needing the respite, Dipolog was awarded another free kick. Wary of another direct kick, the  North Cotobato wall stretched to deny Barbaso of another Roberto Carlos-type goal. But instead, the Azkal sent the ball in the middle of the box that striker Michael Tulang headed in.

Dipolog took a commanding 3-nil lead into the half.

Come the second half, Jukes’ troops stepped up their attacks as they tacked on four more to make it 7-0. Michael Chua scored a brace (‘72, ‘76) while Tulang closed his regionals campaign with his third goal (’74) in as many games. Midfielder substitute Clifford Daypuyat added a most unlikely goal in the 85^th minute when his cross, intended for a teammate, sailed right in.

It was the second straight match where Dipolog scored seven goals.

Dipolog joined Davao which qualified a day earlier by virtue of its pair of 3-nil wins over Dipolog and North Cotobato. The home side drew with upset-minded Cagayan de Oro 2-2 to close out the Mindanao Regionals. Despite giving up two points in the standings, Davao topped the group with a 2-0-1 record (7 points) while Dipolog finished second with a 2-0-1 slate (6 points).

The quarterfinals of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup will pit two teams each from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and NCR in a pair of single round robin group stages in Bacolod and Laguna from May 6-10.

The teams competing in Bacolod will be Bacolod, NCR Team B, Dipolog, and Masbate. The Laguna group stage will include Iloilo, NCR Team A, Dipolog, and the home team.  

The top two teams of each group will play in a crossover semifinals on May 15 and 16 at Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

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My starting XI for the Mindanao Regionals*

Goalkeeper: RS Mantos (Davao)

Back Four: Edwin Giganto (Davao), Mark Anthony Fernandez (Davao), Ninio Ochotorena (Dipolog), Lendor Marcojos (Dipolog)

Midfield: Enrique Romero-Salas (Davao), Jerry Barbaso (Dipolog), Ed Walohan (North Cotobato), Nur Hazzanal Mentang (Davao)

Forwards: Michael Tulang (Dipolog), Juven Benitez (Davao)

Coach: Reginald Jukes (Dipolog)




* These are my thoughts alone and not of the PFF. 




My thanks to Red Avelino, Eilleen Esteban, Coach Erwin Protacio, and Lizette for this trip and everything else.