Iloilo, Masbate win Suzuki U23 Quarterfinals opener

FAMILIAR FOES. Iloilo's Ronald Batisla-Ong and NCR's Nathan Octavio chase down the ball in their matchup at the UPLB in the Laguna Quarterfinals of the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup. Batisla-Ong plays for UST that recently lost to Octavio's UP Diliman in the UAAP Season 73 Men's Football finals. Iloilo asserted its might with a 7-0 win.

Iloilo, Masbate win Suzuki U23 Cup q’finals opener

By Rick Olivares with AJ Bolando and Brosi Gonzales

PANAAD, BACOLOD -- Luzon topnotcher Masbate showed that they are for real in the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup when they beat Mindanao second placer 1-nil yesterday May 6, 2011 at the start of the Group A quarterfinals in Bacolod City.

The Masbate team of coach Kim Versales arrived in Bacolod late in the evening before match day and didn’t get a minute of practice. But Versales’  team showed fine pace and an unstoppable two–man game in the flanks between midfielder Aaron Altiche and attacking midfielder David Fornea that Dipolog has no solution for. That partnership bore several decent scoring chances of which they were able to capitalize on the 15^th minute when Fornea blasted a cross past the goalkeeper.

Even with Jerry Barbaso in harness (who arrived on the day of the match), the absence of Tulang, who scored five goals in the Mindanao regionals, told heavily for coach Reginald Jukes.

Dipolog’s ground game came to life in the second half when Fornea was sent off for a reckless challenge on Barbaso and for pushing the referee. But Dipolog was mostly reduced to taking long shots that were either wide or went straight to the keeper.

Said Versales, “Malaking bagay na red card si Fornea. Napilitan kami mag hold ng formation namin. Tapos for the next game na NCR kalaban wala siya.”

Over at the Group B quarterfinals in Laguna, Iloilo flashed deadly form as they crushed NCR Team A 7-nil at the UP Los Baños pitch. The match, played at 8am, didn’t seem to bother the Ilonggos against an NCR side that obviously had no chemistry and seemed sluggish.

Midfielder Chester Braga scored a brace for the Ilonggos (50, 54) while Peter Sobredo (20), Jewer Vergara (39), Romeo Martinez (60), Shirmar Felongco 71) and German Doronilla (79) added a goal apiece.

“It’s a good game for us kasi, maganda naman yung pinakita nung team we have to win kasi gusto rin naming makapasok sa semi-finals, yung NCR ngayon lang siguro nagkasama sama yang mga yan kaya ganyan yung laro,” said Iloilo coach Marjo Allado.

In the second match in Los Baños, Davao and host team Laguna battled to a 2-2 draw. Davao, the Mindanao group leader scored six seconds into the match when Jovan Benitez’ tested Laguna’s keeper with a long ball and found him wanting. But the home side equalized in the 39^th minute when Rafael Castro’s volley found the back of the net. Laguna went ahead in the second half after a Janboy Castro goal in the 58th minute. But Davao tied the match with a spectacular injury time goal by Edwin Giganto to take a point.

As of press time, NCR Team B, coached by Hans Smit and Adolfo Alicante was still playing Visayas leader Bacolod which is coached by Norman Fegidero Jr.

Schedule of Los Baños games:

May 8, 2011

8 am NCR vs. Davao

3 pm Laguna vs. Iloilo

May 10, 2011

8 am NCR vs. Laguna

3 pm Iloilo vs. Davao

Schedule of Bacolod games

May 8

3pm Masbate vs. NCR

5pm Dipolog vs. Bacolod

May 10

3pm Dipolog vs. NCR

5pm Masbate vs. Bacolod