Iloilo beats Cebu 2-nil to open Visayas leg of PFF Suzuki U23 Cup

Iloilo's Ronald Batsila-Ong congratulates teammate Glester Sobremisana after he scored his side's opening goal in the 64th minute to open the scoring and the Visayas leg of the Suzuki U-23 Cup regionals in Silliman University, Dumaguete City.

Iloilo beats Cebu 2-nil to open Visayas leg of PFF Suzuki U23 Cup

story & photo by rick olivares

DUMAGUETE CITY -- Glester Sobremisana won the scrum inside the Team Cebu box and he hammered home the goal in the 64^th minute for a 1-nil lead for Team Iloilo in the opening match of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup at the Filomeno Cimafranca Field in Silliman University, Dumaguete.

Four minutes later, striker Jomar Lestingio’s strike from 20 yards beat a diving Cebu keeper Garry Garciano that gave Iloilo the three full points and the early lead in the Visayas Regional Qualifiers.

From the opening whistle, the Illongos forced the Cebuano midfield to cough up the ball that led to three scoring chances in the first four minutes of the match. But Team Cebu was able to repulse the repeated attacks in spite of playing their opportunistic 3-5-2 formation as both teams played a scoreless first half.

Iloilo, coached by Barotac Nuevo native and current UST head Marjo Allado, dominated possession throughout the match. The Illongos who are heavy favorites to win the first national tourney under the leadership of PFF President Mariano V. Araneta,  boast of several players plying their trade in Manila schools. There’s Neckson and Nicholas Leonora who play for San Beda College, Francis Gustilo, German Doronilla, and Glester Sobremisana who won a pair of championships for FEU, and UST’s fab four of Shirmar Felongco, Christian de Juan, Ronald Batisla-Ong, and Fidel Kue. “I wish it’s an advantage,” said Allado after the match, “but I am worried about our fitness. We had problems with our finishing but we were able to solve our problems in the second half.”

But interestingly, Iloilo’s goals came after Cebu midfielder Ryan Bordalba was handed out a red card for punching Nicholas Leonora. Matters evened out in the 69^th minute when Lestingio was assessed an instant red card for punching a Cebuano player. An annoyed Allado who hopes to see some of his fellow Illongos play for the Azkals berated his players after the match. “That’s nonsense!” he chided Letingio. “Just play the game. Now wala ka sa next match natin.”

It is hoped that some of the tournament’s best players will reinforce the national team that will compete in the Southeast Asian Games in November this year at Palembang, Indonesia.

Cebu will receive some relief when three other members of their squad arrive from a match in Zamboanga later in the day. Cebuano coach Eleazar Toledo lamented his team’s late arrival as a factor in his team’s dismal performance. “Marami pa kaming ipapakita,” said Toledo who waxed optimistic about his team’s chances. “We arrived at 1am (Friday morning) and we were all up before 6am. Nung second half, bumigay na kami. But no excuses. We will be back.”

The Philippine Men’s National Team’s Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Roel Gener, Paolo Pascual, and Yannick Tuason were on hand to watch the opening game. Said Caligdong, a Barotac Nuevo native along with Araneta and Gener glowed with his native province’s win. “Syempre, excited ako na manalo kami pero may pressure din. Hindi naman dahil taga-Iloilo ay automatic champion na. Kailangan mag-trabaho. Pero proud kami na half ng national team ay taga-Visayas. May pride ba.”

Pascual, who hails from Cebu, remained optimistic about his team’s chances. “It’s the first match. There’s still a long way to go.”

Notes: Marjo Allado, Tournament Local Organizing Committee Officer Red Avelino, and Ian Araneta were teammates on UST’s 2001 UAAP Men’s Football champion squad. Cebu’s cheer in the huddle is “Viva Sto. Niño!” while the Illongos cheer: “Iloilo win, win, win!”

Starting line-ups:

Iloilo: Wilson Munoz (keeper), Ronald Batisla-Ong (defender), Nicolas Leonora (defender) Neckson Leonora (defender), Rhante Bayquin (defender), Romeo Martinez (midfielder), Shirmar Felongco (midfielder), Francis Gustilo (midfielder), Glester Sobremisana (midfielder), Christian de Juan (striker), and Jomar Lestingio (striker)

Cebu: Garry Garciano (keeper), Lupito Tumulak (defender), Carlito Abadia (defender), Jephumneh Pelanio (defender), Laurel Joven Reyes (midfielder), Ryan Bordalba (midfielder), Jessie Roy Melgo (midfielder), Raffy Abaño (midfielder), Jesus Jumao-as (striker), and Joselito Lucañas (striker)

Match stats:

Shots on goal:

Iloilo - 11

Cebu – 3

Corners:

Iloilo – 4

Cebu – 1

Offsides:

Iloilo – 1

Cebu – 3