Most memorable football moment of the weekend: Around the 65th minute of the match between UST and FEU in the UAAP Men's Football Tournament at the Ateneo High School last Saturday, referee Ronel Emnas reach for his yellow card on his shirt's breast pocket to caution a Tamaraw player for a poor tackle. Only the yellow card wasn't in his pocket. It had fallen out of his pocket all the way in the final third of the UST side. As he ran back to retrieve it, Growling Tigers defender Dadam Regis picked it up and ran towards to Emnas then raised the card as if he was issuing a caution to the referee! Everyone on the field and the sidelines cracked up. Emnas sheepishly broke into a smile. Imagine if it was a red card that had fallen. I would have awarded the Man of the Match to Regis.
Runner-up: Saturday, Tats Mercado was defending the goal of Air Force against the onslaught of Kaya. The following day, he was officiating the match between Laos and Union in Division II play. And he was a darn good official (as was Raymark Palmes who officiated the Pachanga-Agila game).
Runner-up: Saturday, Tats Mercado was defending the goal of Air Force against the onslaught of Kaya. The following day, he was officiating the match between Laos and Union in Division II play. And he was a darn good official (as was Raymark Palmes who officiated the Pachanga-Agila game).
Player I look forward to seeing more: Kaya's Joshua Beloya.
My best goals of the past weekend (I didn't see the Sunday UFL Division One matches so forgive me for that):
1. Byong Yeol Jeong, Loyola Meralco Sparks vs. Green Archers United. Truthfully, half that goal should be credited to midfielder Jake Morallo for fooling two GAU defenders with some nifty footwork before threading a throughball to the Korean for a one-on-one with keeper Ivan Fraire for Loyola's third goal.
2. Phil Younghusband, Loyola Meralco Sparks vs. Green Archers United. Younghusband had been off-target at the start of the match until Byong Yeol Jeong sent a cross from the right wing that the Sparks top striker collected and in one motion volleyed home for his side's first goal.
3. Arnie Pasinabo Jr., Green Archers United vs. Loyola Meralco Sparks. After missing a crucial spot kick, Pasinabo raced from the left wing as he received a forward pass. With a Loyola defender closing him down, the former national player fired a cracker of a shot towards the second post just beyond Loyola keeper Ref Cuaresma's hands.
4. Oussey Diop, Pachanga vs. Agila. Right back Janrick Soriano attempted to send a cross to teammate Jovin Bedic who was at the left side but Agila defender Joecil Macalisang blocked the Pachanga player's attempt. The ball went towards Pachanga midfielder Oussey Diop who was about four yards outside the Agila box. Diop blasted home the Red Phoenix' second goal that went towards the top left corner beyond Agila keeper Joseph Rodelas' grasp.
5. Christian de Juan, University of Santo Tomas vs. Far Eastern University. UST midfielder put on a similar move to Loyola's Jake Morallo when his dribbling ditched a Tamaraw defender that forced the FEU keeper Jestoni Celeste to crush out. Lagrimas waited for Celeste to commit to his move before deftly laying the ball off for attacking midfielder Christian de Juan who fired into an empty net.
6. Reggie Jukes Jr., Laos vs. Union Internacionale. With time running down and Union salvaging a measure of pride by pulling back one goal to make it 5-1, Laos, Jukes took a highball inside Union's box, backed up his defender, headed it into a position where as he turned to his left had only himself and the Union keeper to beat. Superb one touch and wicked right boot to finish off Union 6-1.
7. Andoni Santos, Diliman vs. Manila All-Japan. Under siege from Diliman, the Japanese just looked to clear the ball anyway they could. Except that one clearance landed right in front of Santos who fired from about 22 yards away that found the back of the net.
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