Notes on the PFF Suzuki U23 Cup in Iloilo

Notes on the PFF Suzuki U23 Cup in Iloilo:

When I went down to the hotel lobby yesterday morning (I was leaving for the GMA7 complex in Alta Tierra), NCR coach Hans Smit called me over. A couple of his players were under the weather. I asked him if he thought it would be a factor especially in the heat. We just had to see.

It was a really hot day and it did become a factor in the game. In fact, Smit gave his boys a nugget to chew on at the half, “If the heat is bothering you it is also bothering them. But you have to play the game. Kaya niyo yan.”

I also wondered if settling down would be a problem. You see three teams – NCR, Bacolod, and Davao are all staying in Iloilo City and in one hotel and it takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes to get to Barotac Nuevo. The home team was staying in Barotac and they were settled down.

If NCR was worried about a rowdy crowd… nada. The home crowd was gracious and fantastic. Thanks, Barotac Nuevo. You were great.

If people are wondering about Iloilo’s game, it’s simple – NCR knows them well and vice versa. So you cancel each other out. For the second time in four matches, NCR attacked from the get-go (the other was against Dipolog) while somewhat – and for lack of a better term – throwing caution to the wind. Was throwing Deo Segunial and David Basa in the attack a risk? It is always risky but it was brilliant. For those who watch UAAP football regularly, the two are dangerous on the attack. And Deo, FYI, was named Best Defender in the last UAAP tourney.

And Iloilo practiced with Mark Ferrer and Peter Sobredo only to be left out of the lineup last night because of the protest. It doesn’t take a Phd in rocket science to figure out that losing two men throws a monkey wrench in one’s rotation. And it certainly hurt that Jenver Vergara went out with an injury.

Honestly, I think and still believe so that NCR is the most dangerous team in the tournament. Not making an excuse here but if they had the same number of games under their belt as the others, they would have beaten all comers. They just played better and better as the games went on.

In trying to assess the NCR team, a lot of players really played well. It would be tough just to name a few players so suffice to say that they did good.

But if I were Iloilo, I’d be worried. They pulled the rabbit out of this one, but the game was eerily reminiscent of their match against Bacolod which the Negros Occidental team won 1-0. They dominated that match. Misfortune hit NCR. But congratulations to Iloilo. If they find their groove that was on display early in the Visayas regionals they’ll be a tough team to beat.

It’s also a bloody shame, that people are not able to watch Team Masbate coached by former UST keeper and current assistant head coach Kim Versales. They are simply fun to watch despite missing a few key players. They play terrific defense and play even more exciting offense. This team has many players from UE and a few from UST. The hallmark is their disciplined and controlled passing game.


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There are questions arising on why NCR did not have it cluster elimination or regionals. The PFF when mapping out the competition placed NCR as a region. There was also a budget allotted for an NCR tournament but it was decided to use the budget for a tryouts from the colleague leagues. And it was the PFF that said that they can pick their players from the NCAA and UAAP which has always been the practice. Since there are no competitions of that sort save for the collegiate leagues and the UFL, then a selection was decided. 


Hope that clears up everything. But keep in mind that many football associations were unable to properly prepare given the time frame involved. By next year's U-23 competition, it will get better.