NCAA/UAAP players beef up NCR U-23 squad

This appears in the Monday April 25, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

NCAA/UAAP players beef up NCR U-23 squad

by rick olivares

With the quarterfinals stage of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup a few weeks away, the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) announced that the line-ups of the two squads they are fielding will be made known by the end of April 2011. But one thing is for sure – it will be made up of the best of players from the NCAA and UAAP.

Hans Peter Smit of De La Salle University, who was appointed by the NCRFA as head coach said that assisting him on the staff will be Rodolfo Alicante of Far Eastern University, Andres Gonzales of UAAP champion University of the Philippines, and Florante “Lolong” Valencia who will be goal keeper coach. “The coaching staff will handle both teams,” clarified Smit who also bared that the two squads’ composition will be balanced. “We are going with what we have even if we do not have the luxury of an 18-man roster.”

Although the rosters have yet to be finalized, Smit bared the names of a few who have already qualified for a spot on the NCR squads. “We have two members of the Philippine Men’s National Team joining the teams,” said Smit. “That’s Yannick Tuazon and David Basa.”

Other players named to the squads included La Salle’s Patrick Deyto and Nikko Villa; UP’s Stephen Permanes and Gerardo Valmayor; FEU’s Joaquin Melliza and Ronnie Aguisanda; Ateneo’s Anton Amistoso and Mikko Mabanag; the College of Saint Benilde’s Miko Manglapus; and UST’s Ojay Clarino. Permanes, a two-time UAAP champion was adjudged the MVP of the last football tournament while teammate Valmayor was Rookie of the Year on top of being the lead goal scorer of the season.

Of the aforementioned players, Valmayor, Melliza, and Aguisanda were born outside Metro Manila.

Tournament rules allow players to suit up for teams outside their province of birth provided that they play in that locale. In the recently concluded Visayan Regionals, Jake Morallo played for Bacolod in spite of being born in Dumaguete. Morris John Tulang was born in Dipolog but played for Dumaguete since he was going to school in Foundation University which is located in Negros Oriental.