NCR climbs back into contention in Suzuki Cup

This appears in the Monday May 9, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

NCR climbs back into contention in Suzuki Cup

by rick olivares with aj bolando

PANAAD, BACOLOD – National Capital Region Team B settled down in their second match of the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup as they put themselves back into contention for a semifinals berth with a 1-0 win over opening day winner Masbate.

Striker Don Rabaya blasted home a rebound past Masbate keeper Anthony Albao after a superb long distance set piece by NCR’s Jess Melliza in the 22^nd minute.

The Manila eleven showed more fluidity and creativity in their attack with Stephen Permanes, Jay Eusebio, and Nathaniel Alquiros starting in the midfield. With defender David Basa linking up on the attack, NCR dominated large stretches of the first half.

Instead of buckling under the pressure, Masbate regroup and stopped NCR as they forced them into a series of long balls that never served any purpose.

The reset found NCR once more dominating the match. Striker Ojay Clarino and midfielder Yannick Tuason were inserted by coach Hans Smit and their pace and energy galvanized in their attack. NCR thought it tacked on another goal following a Clarino tap in when the keeper dropped another Melliza blast but the linesman whistled the former for offside that drew immediate protests from the NCR coaching staff. “That’s twice we’ve been victimized by a bad call,” lamented Smit. “The goal difference could hurt us.”

Even as one NCR team got going, another was ousted from the quarterfinals.

Davao ousted NCR Team A with a 4-0 thrashing at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños in the first game of the Laguna double-header.

Davao, the Mindanao regional leader, came out with a lot more intensity after nearly losing to Laguna in their opening match. Said keeper RS Mantos, “We were embarrassed and we agreed to play with a lot more heart and intensity.”

The Davaoeños, coached by Alvic Troyo, scored first with an outside volley by midfielder Nur Mentang in the 22^nd minute. But after NCR defender Enzo Bonoan was sent off with a red card for a reckless tackle, Davao took advantage of the manpower advantage as they poured it on in the second half. Al-dina Tiburon added the insurance goal in the 57^th minute that broke the Manilans’ backs. Joven Benitez and Reyelle Pino tacked on two more goals in the 72^nd and 89^th minute even as a second NCR player, forward Matteo Yuhico was red carded.

In the main match at the Laguna group quarterfinals, the home side drew 1-1 with fancied Iloilo. A Lawrence Gatasi strike in the 67^th minute saw Laguna go up as they outplayed Iloilo. But head coach Marjo Allado’s boys leveled the match in the 82^nd minute after midfielder Michael Poras found a crease in the defense.

The Ilonggos destroyed NCR Team A in their first game 7-0.