NCR, Iloilo win in U19 Cup

This appears in the Friday May 27, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

caption: NCR's Gino Clarino (younger brother of Ojay Clarino who plays for Ateneo High School) goes on the attack against Naga. NCR won 10-1.

NCR, Iloilo win in U19 Cup

by rick olivares & dodo bustamante

The National Capital Region continued to lead the way in the National Under-19 Football Cup at San Julio Realty Field in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental as they topped their division with a 10-1 rout of Naga-Camarines Sur last Wednesday, May 25.

In only the 3rd minute of the match, NCR’s Emmanuel Arre scored.  Although Naga's Sterling Witecombe answered eight minutes later with a strike of his own, the Manilans’ Alvin Obero immediately negated it.  The goal put NCR firmly in control as Antonio Celdran put his side on top with a close range blast in the 23^rd minute. 

Obero received a pass from midfield to successfully add another point six minutes later.  Naga threatened once more following a perfect left cross by Witecombe found target man Robin Espena. The header unfortunately went straight to the NCR keeper. Halftime ended 5-1 in favor of the Manilans.

The second half saw the entry of NCR’s 6'5" center striker Reuben Saldua of CSB. The Marlon Maro coached squad renewed their attack that yielded positive results to fashion out the rout. Sebastian Gonzales, Paul Salenga (who cored a hat trick), and Saldua all combined for the final tally.

In the day’s other match, it was an exciting duel between Iloilo and North Cotabato entertained the soccer fans with a closely fought contest.  Iloilo, led by Kota Kinabalu Youth U14 player Joe Kim Lustro, struggled against the dominance of the Cotabato boys who maintained the battleground at midfield.  Before the end of the first half two successive strikes by North Cotabato striker were saved by the Ilonggo goalkeeper. 

Cotabato striker Billy Joe Jimenez slipped past Iloilo guards and out maneuvered the goalkeeper only to see his shot stopped at the goal line by an Iloilo defender.  With the field slippery because of rain, Jimenez was thrown out after a second cautionable offense as he pushed the Iloilo defender in attempt to maintain possession of the ball from a left flank drive in the 80th min.  Iloilo finally connected from 10 meters as Lustro struck just before final whistle with the Mindanao squad demoralized after being reduced to 10 men.