Loyola hopes to bring home some silverware

Loyola hopes to bring home some silverware

by rick olivares

There’s an air of excitement in this fourth trip of Loyola to Singapore never mind it’s a battle for third place. It is still where no Filipino football club has gone before. The conclusion of the Singapore S. League and Singapore Cup are both coming to its end.

Even after the disappointing loss to Tampines Rovers in the semifinals where the Sparks got blanked 5-0, there was an air of optimism. The team went into the tournament with hardly any expectations. A semifinals berth and an opportunity to win third place is beyond belief. Even here in Singapore outside the Filipino community, there is also an appreciation for what the UFL club has brought to this tournament.

“They play great football and will only get better,” said Tampines Rovers striker Aleksandar Duric after their second leg match with Loyola. “Every time they play there is a great atmosphere and a big crowd. That is good not just for Philippine football but also for Singapore and Asia.”

For Loyola to celebrate properly, they will have to defeat Gombak United in the battle for third place in this 2012 Singapore Cup.

However, it has been a wretched October for Gombak United. The Bulls, as the club is nicknamed, have taken it on the chin losing all four of its matches for the month. The month started with a close 3-2 loss to Geylang United. That was followed by a 6-1 shellacking by Singapore Armed Forces. In both their semifinals matches with Singapore Armed Forces in the Singapore Cup, they lost by a pair of 1-nil results. The Bulls (7-7-9) have fallen from sixth place in the S. League standings to ninth; 21 points off leader Tampines Rovers.

Gombak has an opportunity to move up to eighth place but they’ll be up against Japanese club Albirex Niigata that is currently in fourth place.

The club once took a three-year sabbatical from the S. League in the early years of the new millennium after financial woes. Upon their return, they won the Singapore League Cup in 2008 but have since fallen off again. In the scoring leader board, Mustaqim Manzur has scored six goals while Hafiz Rahim has four. In 23 matches thus far in the S. League, Gombak has scored 23 goals while conceded 29.

But it should also be noted that Gombak has worked its way out of the cellar with its improved play, October notwithstanding. They may also be 0-4 for the month but they’ll no doubt want to go out with a winning note.

Aside from Mustaqim and Rahim, Gombak hopes that tall Korean attacking midfielder Jung Hee Bong can help their cause. Gombak has played a more defensive brand of football in the latter stage of the S. League.

Loyola will be missing several players for the match. Amani Aguinaldo, Michael Menzi, and Eric Giganto are with FEU in the University Games back in Bacolod where they are in the semifinals. New midfielder Rodrigue Nembot was a late addition to the Sparks and is ineligible for Singapore Cup play. Right back PJ Fadrigalan is unavailable because of work. Midfielder Davide Cortina stayed back home while recuperating from a knee injury.

But the Sparks are buoyed with their recent 8-1 whitewashing of Nomads and are keen to pick up some silverware, the club’s first ever. “It will be good for us to end this tournament on a very high note,” said team captain James Younghusband. “”We have to work for it and hope that we bring some silverware back with us to the Philippines.”

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Read this on Chad Gould

Quotes from the Loyola Meralco Sparks:

Ref Cuaresma, goalkeeper:

I feel both happy and sad about today's game. Happy because we have a chance to win this and bring glory to our club, country, and the UFL. Sad because it is our last game of the tournament. I feel we grew as a team here in Singapore. And it's always nice to go to Singapore.

Anto Gonzales, midfielder:

We're going in confident about what we have to do. We have a great opportunity to achieve something for our young club. We will be up against a team that has been established in the S. League. They may not be doing well now but that doesn't mean they will not give their best. We are doing something for Philippine football here.

Roxy Dorlas, defender

We look at this game in a different way. We are not just representing Loyola but also the UFL and the Philippines. We hope to do well.

Chad Gould, defender

It feels good to be able to achieve something for Philippine football again. To be a part of this is massive. We hope to play our best for this game.

S. League notes: Tampines that is barely holding off guest squad DPMM of Brunei in league play. The Stags have a 5-0 aggregate win has a 15-4-4 record good for 49 points. DPMM has a 15-3-5 record and has accrued 48 points. Both clubs have a plus-24 goal difference so their final fixtures are going to be very interesting on how they finish.

You have to read this article written by good friend Fabius Chen of the Straits Times and its about Singapore/Tampines striker Aleksandar Duric. How many people will drive a cab for this? This man, Loyola idolizes!

Loyola Meralco Sparks: Terminal stories

With Wu Chul Kim, Alex Elnar and Mike Yamamoto of Loyola. We knew it was a long flight and an evening one at that. We wondered whether we should eat a full meal to tide us over or to eat lightly. The Pinoy players of the Sparks were trying to get the Koreans to teach them to dance Gangnam style. The Koreans weren't amused. Hahaha. Joke. 

Move over Tom Hanks. You aren't the only one sleeping in a Terminal. When we found out that our flight was going to be delayed by over an hour, we decided to get some shuteye. Not in photo is a can that asked for alms. Hahaha. Mga yagit! Movies I uploaded to my Galaxy Tab: The Avengers, Prometheus, The Bourne Legacy, and Amazing Spider-Man.

There was this kid who kept all of us amused. He kept going to me for high fives, water, or to look at my Galaxy Tab. This kid also near finished the chips of Ref Cuaresma.

It was a long and at times bumpy flight. One saving grace for me (and I am sure for many passengers is we had a very pretty stewardess. Hallmark of a pretty girl -- it's late, it's a long flight with some nagging turbulence and she smiles at you like the sun shines after a long and rainy day. 

We finally arrived at Changi Airport at 2am and got out before 3am. We were all too glad to go to our hotel for some real shuteye. Breakfast at 10am. Player registration at 12noon. Game briefing and film viewing at 4pm. Practice at Jalan Besar at 7pm.

We're all raving about Heineken's new Skyfall advert. Daniel Craig is the best James Bond ever!

Heineken Skyfall from Amsterdam Ad Blog on Vimeo.

Caligdong vs. Caligdong

In Group D play of the 2012 UFL Cup tonight at the University of Makati (assuming we've got great weather and the pitch is playable), Air Force and Sta. Lucia get it on in the nightcap after the Battle for the Group B championship kicks off the day's doubleheader (Navy vs. Team Socceroo). Air Force is a game behind Army (2-1-0) with a 1-1-0 record. They'll be up against Sta. Lucia, a team with its own roots to Iloilo as it virtually has a similar composition to its brother club in Stallion. Sta. Lucia still has a chance to advance to the knockout stages of the cup but they need to take some points against the defending cup champions. Now you know that it won't be easy.

One other subplot is this is the first time in UFL history that a Caligdong will go up against a Caligdong. You all know the dude in the picture above... goes by the nickname of Chieffy or Da Chief. Has his own commercial including that Gatorade one where he recreated his incredible goal against Mongolia. Well, he'll be leading Air Force and he'll be up against the dude in the picture below....

Meet Jun Caligdong, cousin of Da Chief. Jun was supposed to play for Air Force several years ago but it never happened. Was content to play club football in Barotac Nuevo and is now trying to find himself a career in the UFL with Sta. Lucia. Good luck, gentlemen! The Jun Caligdong photos are from me. Kindly ask permission if you are going to borrow them.

On Freddie Roach trailer

Mick Denison resigns as Nomads’ head coach

This appears in abs-cbnnews.com

Mick Denison resigns as Nomads’ head coach

by rick olivares

Michael Denison is never one to mince his words. You know when he is pulling your leg or when something is eating at him. Of the latter, he throws out all the English charm and accent that every word is enunciated very clearly.

The email letter today most of all.

It is close to a Jerry Maguire moment. A moment of supreme clarity when one damns the torpedoes and as Cameron Crowe wrote: “Leave your balls out to dry.” Denison pressed the “reply to all” and tendered his fiery resignation as Nomads head coach.

Wrote Denison: “I have been involved with football for over 40 years. Most of that time at a reasonable level. So I think I know what I am talking about. There is no doubt that Loyola are a fantastic team and play wonderful football. They deserved to win and congratulations. It’s not just the penalty decision but it’s all kinds of small things that the (game) officials are repeatedly letting go. It’s like we are playing different rules to the rest of the world.

I shout and get angry because it’s the same mistakes EVERY week. No one is doing anything about it. What is the point in having a fourth official and a referees assessor if the three officials make mistakes every game.

Why can’t someone say, ‘Ah, okay, Mick. You are correct and WE ARE WRONG’ instead of me being the stupid bad boy every week. I am ashamed of screaming abuse at Jerry (Andres) and the others but they do NOTHING about it. Seriously this is ridiculous now and someone has to take control, listen to coaches, make changes and let coaches know that something is being done about it.

I have resigned as coach of Nomads FC today. The above is the main reason. I have had enough and I have not taken the decision lightly.”

Denison was clearly incensed when referee Rey Ritaga whistled Nomads midfielder Sam Fogg for a foul on Loyola forward Phil Younghusband inside the former’s box. That led to a Younghusband penalty shot that leveled the score at 1-1.

Nomads claims that the spotty call unnerved them and it told heavily on their morale after they had taken an early lead following a strike by Mickael Cardoso. Loyola went on to whitewash Nomads 8-1 to send the latter from first in Group C of the 2012 UFL Cup to third place on goal difference.

Long after the lights around the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium pitch were shut down, the Nomads players sat on the track in front of their bench still in a state of disbelief and muted anger.

In a conversation with Denison after the match, he lamented that his team is already at a disadvantage because they are all working professionals who only play for the love of the game. “All we ask is for the match to be called fairly.”

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Responding to my protestations over his decision to call it quits, Denison wrote back: “Yeah, well Rick, I feel so bad after every game. Bad because Jerry (Andres) is a nice guy but just doesn’t get it. He’s not up to the job obviously but I like the guy. The referees are nice guys and have known me for years but for whatever reason we never get the rub of the green. I will be watching the games but not involved on the touchline. I think I will enjoy my football again. At the moment I just don’t enjoy it anymore.”

I had become friends with Denison last year when I began to cover the UFL for the first time as a journalist and not as a fan. I recall how one time he coached a match in flip-flops and teased him mercilessly about that. One of my favorite Bleachers’ Brew podcasts is with Nomads (that included Denison, Jeff Blake, Phil Connolly, and Randy Musters). Most recently, I wrote about Nomads’ ongoing problem in their home pitch at Merville, Parañaque. It is something that the rest of the media later picked up.

Arsenal Soccer School Indonesia to play Chelsea Soccer School Philippines in friendly

Arsenal Soccer School Indonesia to play Chelsea Soccer School Philippines in friendly

Arsenal Soccer School Indonesia (U16 team) will have a private training session with the Chelsea Soccer School Philippines at the Tribeca Field today. The Arsenal Soccer School is in Manila to play a friendly against the Chelsea Soccer School this coming Saturday, October 27, 2012 at the Evia Football Field.

Arsenal Indonesia will be coached by Jules Denis Onana. The visitors will also watch UFL Match Loyola and Mendiola at 7pm tonight at the University of Makati.

The Chelsea Soccer School Philippines Festival will be on Saturday, October 27, at Evia Field in Alabang and have three category tournaments: Under-10, Under-12, and Under-16.

The Loyola Meralco Sparks aren’t the only club playing in Singapore. The UFL Division One club will close out its 2012 Singapore Cup campaign when they play Gombak United for Third Place on Sunday, October 28, at the Jalan Besar Stadium at 5pm but following their heels will be the Sparks Under-12 team that will play in the SingaCup, a league-type tournament also in Singapore, from November 4-10, 2012.

The LMS U-12 team is composed of Hugh Kendryx Soriano, Emilio Gonzales Bongolan, Terran Chato, Stephen Ryan Herrera, Jacob Padernal, Carlos Lozano, Paco Locsin, Jan Vincent Nico Quintana, Kenneth Rance, Juan Paolo Lukban, William Valtos, Luis Carlos Bongolan, Juan Sky Guerrero, Fernando Antonio Roxas, Luis Dominic Elnas, and Artuz Aaron Cezar.

Brooklyn here we come. New home for the New York Islanders. Now it's time to win.

Goodbye, Long Island. Hello, Brooklyn.

After more than four decades of playing at the Nassau Veterans Coliseum in Long Island, the New York Islanders will be leaving for the more swanky Barclays Center in Brooklyn, home of the Brooklyn Nets, in two season’s time.

How do I feel about the move?

I am fine with it. Sure Nassau is where the Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cups but that was a long time ago. Since the dynasty fell the history has been one of never ending frustration. They’ve acquired some great talent recent but the wins have been few and far in between. Playoff hockey is a long ways to go. What I’d give for the Islanders to be featured in the Winter Classic. That would be a return to respectability and winning hockey.

And the Barclays Center is in the center as 11 subway lines, 11 bus lines, and the Long Island Rail Road pass right through so it's not so bad. You won't have to worry about parking.

One other thing that makes the move more acceptable is that the Isles get to retain the “New York” in their name unlike the Nets who adopted “Brooklyn”. I’d hate to feel like those Brooklynites who feel that Los Angeles “stole” the Dodgers from them. Brooklyn, I am sure, will embrace hockey and the Islanders.

Playing in a new arena will make the players feel good and bring in a new fan base instead of the long-suffering fans like me who talk about the good old days and only about the good old days. When I proposed “The Drive for Five” for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their own campaign this past UAAP season, that was a nod to the Isles’ history.

There’s been a new ownership. Now there’s a new arena. Hopefully, the new era will be in full swing. And it’s a winning one.

Now if only the labor dispute can be settled.

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Long time New York Islanders fan. People always have to ask me, "Excuse me?" when I say I am Isles fan. Dude, you stick with your team not only when they are winning but when they are losing. 

Carlos De Guzman, the dude behind swimbikerun.ph, will run the New York Marathon

This appears in abs-cbnsnews.com

Carlos De Guzman, the dude behind swimbikerun.ph, will run the New York Marathon

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales

Christmas came early this year for Carlos De Guzman.

Septemberthreemonthsearly for the guy who swimsbikesruns to be exact.

That’s how fast his mind was racing as soon as Gatorade’s Ton Gatmaitan came down the chimney in the Fruit Punch colors making like Santa Claus with a plane ticket to New York City to run the freaking New York Marathon (on November 4, 2012).

He tried to sound cool about it when Ton asked, “Have you ever done the New York Marathon?”

Carlos had inkling that he'd be sponsored for the marathon since a year ago to that date, Ton also popped the same question to the Bull Runner herself. But when Ton said he’d get back to him in a few hours he agonized on "I hope it's a yes". And when the Activations Manager for Gatorade did – “Yeah, we’ll send you” – it was like Carlos won the lottery.

De Guzman actually tried to win a lottery slot to one of the world’s most famous marathons the previous year but it was no go. This time around it was like he was the recipient of the Make A Wish Foundation.

In truth, Carlos had just successfully recovered from a long bout with anemia that affected his participation in his beloved triathlon events. He missed the last Ironman Philippines because of his illness. When he would finish his races he looked like the cat dragged him across the finish line with his suit opened up so he could breathe. “My motivation for this New York Marathon?” he said aloud. “To prove that I am back in the game.”

“And it’s New York!” he exclaimed. “It’s going to be a feast for the eyes. I’ve read and watched so much about the city, the marathon, and the culture. It is important not to be overwhelmed. I need to focus. Everything else can come later.”

By day, Carlos is a voice talent for a Korean telenovela (don’t ask him what because he isn’t allowed to say which one). When he’s off, he works on his popular blog swimbikerun.ph that is about to celebrate its second year in cyberspace journalism. If he isn’t doing those, he’s participating in all these triathlons. Yet still when he finds the time, Carlos, who was at the Conservatory of Music at UST, jams with his band playing alternative rock music.

He swears that there isn’t enough time in the day for everything but until more hours are added to a day the 24 currently in use will have to do. And right now, Carlos is deep into his preparations for the New York Marathon.

“Some people are worried about the cold weather,” he pointed out. “I am not. I thrive in colder climates.”

Right now, Carlos is trying to get as much mileage as he can. He isn’t concentrating on speed but working on the base fundamentals including hydration. “It’s important to hydrate not during the run but before the race as well.” For the marathon, De Guzman has set a goal for himself – to finish the marathon in five hours or less. “I’d be very happy with that.”

How will he celebrate after he crosses the finish line?

“To eat one of New York’s famous street hotdogs. With everything on it. Oh, yeah. With Gatorade.”

Carlos De Guzman's gear that he will wear when he runs the New York Marathon on November 4 (pic above).

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Pinoys in the New York Marathon! Here are the stuff that I did last year when schoolmate Jaymie Pizarro (aka The Bull Runner) ran the New York Marathon. Also had some stuff from my classmate Butch Tansengco and Nori Poblador also shared their experiences at the NY Marathon.

Ateneo Blue Eagles five-peat ad in today's dailies. Download it! OBF!

Don't you just love the perfect symmetry? Hand aloft. Five fingers. Five players on the court at anytime that represents the team concept. But the number eight is also for the eight UAAP Men's Basketball Championships. Animo Ateneo! When Sonia Araneta asked me for ideas for the print ad, I recommended the hand with the five fingers aloft with minimal copy. Of course, we turned to colleague Philip Sison for photos and we couldn't find a proper one. So this one turned out to be the best. Cool, ain't it?

UFL Tuesday: Loyola crushes Nomads to take Group C lead

Loyola crushes Nomads to take Group C lead

by rick olivares photo by anton sheker

Football teams respond to adversity in different ways.

Loyola-Nomads was more than a battle for one team trying to rebound from a loss and another trying to stay atop the standings. In their final league meeting from last season, Nomads snatched a valuable two points from Loyola when Steven Borrill drilled in a late goal to give Nomads a 2-2 draw at full time. The result threw a huge monkey wrench into Loyola’s bid for a league title. And that meant there was more motivation for this head-to-head than usual.

The Sparks came out attacking while Nomads looked menacing on the counter. Against Pachanga the other week, Nomads’ defense of the midfield was fierce but without the suspended Phil Connolly in this match with Loyola, they lacked the feisty and physical presence that threw off finely tuned midfielders like Boyet Cañedo and Ousseynou Diop. Loyola was given all the space in the world to operate as they worked their deliberate build up. Phil Younghusband threatened early on but it was Nomads that got on the board first.

With no Loyola defender with several feet of him, Nomads midfielder Mickael Cardoso unleashed a volley from outside the box that Sparks defender Chad Gould tried to block. That only served to redirect the shot over and above the outstretched hands of keeper Ref Cuaresma who was a little off his line for a 1-nil lead in only the eighth minute.

Down in the unlikeliest moments of the game, Loyola, instead of panicking, went back to their offense that they executed to perfection. Eleven minutes later, picked up a controversial penalty call when Sam Fogg allegedly fouled Phil Younghusband. Nomads head coach Mick Denison went ballistic over the call as Younghusband sent keeper Friso Klok flailing helplessly in the air for the equalizer.

Yet even before the penalty, it was obvious that Nomads didn’t play as tight on defense as they did against Pachanga as the Sparks had acres of space to operate. Another 11 minutes later, Younghusband beat the offside trap and uncorked a wicked shot straight past Klok for Loyola’s second score.

In the 40^th minute, Loyola midfielder Mark Hartmann found left wing Byeong Yeol Jeong lurking unmarked on the left side of the goal and the Korean who earlier passed up a shot to look for Younghusband this time fired away for a 3-1 lead. That goal put the fight out of Nomads with still much to play.

After the break, Phil Younghusband found older brother James unmarked from 20 yards out whose delicate chip over Klok – who was also off his line – made it 4-1 for Loyola in the 49^th minute.

The Sparks chalked up another assist when reserve midfielder Jang Jo Won lofted a cross from the left side to Anto Gonzales who came barreling in for a one-touch volley that made it 5-1 in the 59^th minute.

In the 70^th minute, James Younghusband evaded a defender then danced around an onrushing Klok. Rather than score himself, James waited for his younger brother who poked the ball in for a hat trick and a 6-1 lead.

Loyola continued its humiliation of Nomads when Jake Morallo, who came in for Phil at the 74^th minute also scored in similar fashion when he juked a defender and Klok who was forced off his line to score into an empty net; 7-1, Loyola.

Morallo scored a brace in the 80^th minute when he volleyed from close range to close out the scoring at 8-1.

The huge win put Loyola on level with Pachanga and Nomads at 2-0-1 although the Sparks took the pole position for the first time all season after their goalfest gave them 11 goals scored and a plus-seven difference.

Pachanga fell to second with a plus-three in goal difference while Nomads slipped to third with a negative five in the same category. “We just lost it after the score went to 3-1, 4-1,” said Jeff Blake, Nomads’ starting keeper who is still on the mend. “The penalty didn’t help at all but Loyola was on their game today.”

“We just can’t compete with players,” lamented a dejected and simmering Denison after the match. “then the refs make a bum call. It’s stacked against us. It will take a miracle for us to catch up now because we still do not have a complete lineup and our goal difference makes it an uphill climb. We have to find a way to respond to this game.”

With one match left for Nomads – against Mendiola – they will need to score some goals and for either Loyola or Pachanga to drop some points. Loyola has one more assignment also against Mendiola (Thursday, October 25 at 7pm at the University of Makati) while Pachanga takes on Laos in the nightcap, 9pm.

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My thoughts that didn't make the piece:
In this match, I thought that what was key for Loyola winning this was the exceptional play of Mark Hartmann and Anto Gonzales. When Mark Hartmann is on his game he makes the offense flow. That is why when Pachanga shut him down it hurt Loyola. But not having Anto on the pitch also hurt the Sparks in that match. You already know what you are getting from the Younghusband brothers but for Loyola to win, the other mids have to play at a high level. I would like to make a case for Hartmann's inclusion in the national team pool. He is the best free kick taker in the country bar none. Just watching him take those free kicks and corners is a thing of beauty. He can provide the forwards with a steady diet of balls. If he works like he did yesterday then he can be a huge asset to a team. He might not be as fast as say Stephan Schrock but if the spirit moves him then he is a great footballer. While in conversation with some Singaporean coaches, they praised Hartmann and Gonzales for their play and technical skills. Just saying that he should be given a second look. 

If Hartmann and Gonzales are key for Loyola, the same can be said for Phil Connolly to Nomads. I love this guy's play. Absolutely fearless. Luis Infante and Jason Arroyo should learn from him. If they can pick up his inspirational play in the midfield they'll be an even tougher team. Nomads really missed him yesterday. And Nomads should have parked the bus after the score went to 4-1. Now that goal difference hurts.

UFL Tuesday: Air Force and Army battle to a stalemate

Air Force and Army battle to a stalemate

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales

One season later. One man down. Still the same result. Air Force drew Army 1-1 in a hotly contested match in Group D play at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The two military teams figured in a pair of 2-2 draws in their two meetings in last season’s league play. In both those matches, it was Air Force that drew first blood with Army seizing a late equalizer.

In their cup meeting, Army showed greater fluidity in their attack with superb midfield play and in their build up while Air Force opted to look for opportunities from the long ball. But it was Army’s more methodical approach where they worked those triangular formations with pinpoint passing for early chances.

Boogie Margarse had a pair of excellent chances to open the scoring for Army but the veteran midfielder and national player muffed his shots including one where he headed in a shot but was called offside.

But in the 15^th minute of play, in a virtual replay of the Margarse non-goal, Luisito Brilliantes beat a gaggle of Air Force defenders when he slipped a cross to an open Laurence Bedua who was left unmarked in front of the goal. Air Force keeper Tats Mercado had no chance and Army was on the board first, 1-0, for the first time in three meetings.

Striker Meliton Pelayo had an opportunity to double Army’s lead in the 36^th minute when he beat a defender and skirted around Mercado who rushed out to grab the ball. But Pelayo who only needed to slot the ball into an empty net misfired and the ball went wide.

That brought up Air Force head coach Sgt. Edzel Bracamonte who was livid with his team’s defense. In a simple adjustment that turned the tide for the Airmen, Bracamonte moved winger Chieffy Caligdong to a holding midfield position as opposed to his usual left wing spot. The move stopped Army’s Relan Bretaña and Bedua from supplying the wingers with crosses or throughballs. With Army stymied, Air Force seized control of the match.

Ian Araneta equalized in the 46^th minute with a thunderous free kick from 20 yards that took Army goalkeeper Eduard Sacapaño by surprise. The shot cleared the wall and quickly dipped towards Sacapaño who tried to parry the shot but was unable to. One-one and back to square one.

Controversy arose in the 53^rd minute when Army defender John Cain was sent off by referee Michael Barajas for elbowing Araneta while battling for possession of a loose ball. Reduced to 10 men and fatigued from their relentless assault on Mercado in the first half, Army nearly wilted under the pressure as their once tight defense cracked.

In the 72^nd minute, in a play eerily reminiscent of Pelayo’s botched open goal attempt, Caligdong found striker Yanti Barsales who also ditched his defender. Like Pelayo, Barsales’ sidefoot went wide left much to the disbelief of all players and the crowd on hand.

Army summoned one last energy for a push as late substitutes Champ Baron, Jeoff Lobaton, and Rodrigo Betita gave them some fresh legs but Brilliantes misfired on a close range volley after Sacapaño targeted him with a long ball.

The match ended in a draw that was hardly satisfying for both teams. Said Army coach Ricky Cain, “Yung buong Army nanonood. Utos sa amin na panalunin to. Walang kababayan kababayan dito. Para sa pride ng Army ‘to.”

Cain was referring to the roots of many of the players from both sides which is in Iloilo but the inter-service rivalry takes precedence over anything.

“I am disappointed in the result,” said Bracamonte after the game. “We should have won this pero now 1-1-0 kami.”

Despite the draw, Army kept the top spot of Group D with a 2-1-0 record for seven points. Army has one more match to play and that is against Sta. Lucia.

Air Force has yet to play Stallion and Sta. Lucia.