PAREF-Springdale and Queen City United bagged their first titles in their respective division yesterday in the one-day GTZ World Cup Football Festival at the San Roque Parish football field.

Springdale defeated Cebu International School (CIS), 1-0, to take the Boys’ Under-17 division, a title held by CIS in the four previous festivals, while Queen City United defeated San Roque FC by the same score to take the Men’s Open crown, previously ruled by Hiroshi FC, Don Bosco FC and Airforce.

It was a tough loss for CIS, led by Mike Sharpe, Red Miguel and Paolo Cases, as they defeated the other Paref team in a tough shoot-out in the semifinals.

Red had the two winning plays in the sudden death shootout as he first stopped keeper Paolo Pascual’s final shot to preserve the draw, and then banged in his game winner past Pascual to send his team to the finals.

However, in the finals, a costly error by Red cost CIS the title.

Red failed to secure the ball off a high cross from Blui Arriola, who was named the MVP, to RJ Sembrano and Sembrano promptly drilled the goal to the empty net early in the first half.

Springdale held on to its lead as CIS failed to score an equalizer.

Meanwhile, the battle for third by Paref and Springdale also took a strange twist after an SRFC player got sent out by referee Luis Arriesgado for throwing dust at Miles Chu’s eye, after they trailed 0-1.

“We saw him pick up and gather the sand in his hand, that’s why we were watching him. He was only waiting for a chance to throw it,” a Springdale parent said.

After the game, San Roque stalwart Eleazar Toledo cornered the boy and scolded him for his action and was seen leading the player to the Springdale bench to apologize.

CIS dominance in the Girls 17 continued for another tournament as it defeated San Roque, 1-0, for the crown. Maryanne Mendezona got the MVP award.

In the Men’s Open, Martin Bontia’s shot from halfcourt bounced off the ground past Gary Garciano for the lone goal of the match. Bontia also bagged the MVP in the division as he helped lead the team to a close 1 win 2 draw finish in the elimination round.

In the Boys 12 division, Hiroshi bagged the crown over Don Bosco College while San Roque A won the Players 8 crown. Dale Delos Santos got the MVP award for Hiroshi, while Lawrence Colina got the citation in the Players 8.

Results in the Players 10 and Women’s Open were still unavailable at press time.

The one-day tournament was sponsored by GTZ and was aimed to promote the coming World Cup in Germany this June.

THIS pseudo cebufa website, which has long been disowned by the Cebu Football Association has been stealing entries from this blog and from other Pinoy football websites, without bothering to acknowledge the source.

This internet thieves, led by Paul Weiler, the German national who claimed to be an official of the CebuFa but has long since been denied, copy posts from this blog, and from other internet forums and post them in that pseudo-CebuFa forum.

Stealing other people’s opinions and works.

Of course, Mr Weiler, who also claims to be an official of FC Inter Cebu, but has also been kicked out of the club, is a fan of transparency and fair play.

You will notice that these thieves use lots of identities at the forum, yet their mannerisms, replies and thievery are the same — which proves that only one man is behind those identities — and subsequently — the thieft.

BEFORE the summer officially ends, footballers in Cebu can get to enjoy their sport for one more day in the GTZ World Cup Festival at the San Roque Parish football field on May 21.

The one-day festival will offer competion for the Players 8, Players 10, Boys and Girls 12, Boys and Girls 17, Men’s and Ladies’ Open and the Men’s 36-above category.

Registration fee for the youth teams is P300 and P500 for the senior teams.

“Slots are limited because the sponsors want to make it a one-day festivals with as many age groups as possible. We can’t have many teams because we can only use five pitches at San Roque,” said Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo.

Aside from the medals and trophies to the winners, the sponsors will also hand out giveaways about the world cup.

“I don’t have the details yet but they are coming up with a pakulo to promote Germany and the World Cup,” Maximo said.

According to the CebuFA president 60 teams have so far registered for the event, while the Ateneo de Manila University is also expected to send a delegation to the one day event.

Maximo will also meet with the coaches on May 19 for the submission of line-up and credentials of the players to offset any controversy in the 36-above category.

‘We will implement the no credential, no play policy,” Maximo said.

The group has decided to lower the age limit from 38-above to 36-above to accommodate more players.

“Daghan kaayog ganahan mudula,” he said.

From Sun.Star Cebu

http://sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/05/16/sports/new.eligibility.rules.for.2007..html

In an effort to end age cheating in the Palarong Pambansa, the Department of Education will impose new eligibility rules next year.

Len Toledo, Palarong Pambansa task force leader, said current eligibility rules need to be upgraded.

“We have to re-write the eligibiity rules,” said Toledo.

Although, Toledo did not mention the possible changes, he said the 21-man screening committee will set down to discuss the revision.

Some coaches, however, suggested that it would be better for the Palarong Pambansa to disallow photocopies of athletes’ birth certificates.

“That’s where mostly the problem was. But for us in Central Visayas werequire original birth certificates authenticated by the local civil registrar,” said Alberto Mangaran, records head of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association.

For Norlto Tolop, athletics coach of the Bicol Region, any discrepancies can easily be detected by the physical appearance of the athlete.

“Why not conduct a thorough physical checkup to determine athletes’ age?,” said Tolop.

Michael Martin, athletics head coach of Caraga region, admitted that many regions violated eligibility rules because they wanted to win at any cost.

———–
I’ve played in a DepEd (then Decs) organized meet from Grade four until fourth year high school — age cheating was a problem then………and its now 2006………

PLAYING in their very first Palarong Pambansa, the Don Bosco College led elementary Central Visayas Athletic Association team withstood strong odds and the hometown crowd to take the title over Bicol, 1-0.

It wasn’t an easy run for the Bosconians, coached by Joselito “Babot” Bono and Rommel Ramirez, as they had to play three games yesterday.

The defeated Southern Tagalog by a shoot out to arrange a rematch against Bicol, who also defeated the Bosconians via shootout last Friday to earn the twice-to-beat advantage.

In the first game, goalkeeper Leonard Francis Tan led the Bosconians to a 3-2 win to arrange the rubber-match, the third game for DBC in just under six-hours.

Aside from Tan, other members of the team are DBC’s John Daniel Caballero, Charles Caballes, Jericho Christian Noel, Rikko De Guzman (team captain), Miko Limalima, Peter Hendrick Ricamora, Andrew Sid Tabar, Miguel Caindec, James Eric Nacorda, Ethan Decena, Vincent Gealon, and reinforcements Prince Antony from City Central School and Angel Alfeche and Joseph Rey Cutayan of Bohol province.

Despite being tired and weary, DBC gave everything they could and Gealon banged in the game-winner in the second half.

“Prayers ra gyud,” Bono said of their win. Bono took over the head coaching job in DBC for the past three years and is a first timer in the Palaro.

Aside from prayers, Bono’s training regimen also helped DBC survive the grueling Palaro schedule and a physical game against Romblon, who’s players were bigger than the Bosconians.

“Napilde man sad namo sila. We train twice a day and thankfully, nakalahutay ang hangin nila sa duwa and nobody got injured also,” he said.

The Don Bosco College led elementary cviraa Squad are a step away from winning the title. They are on the finals as of this writing, and let’s hope they win both games to bring home the bacon.

Bay ronaldo, can you post the names of the boys here?

BARRING anymore CR-prone or blind referees, 17-year-old elementary students, or any of the foul-ups that is normal of a Department of Education (Ironic isn’t it?) organized sports event – the Don Bosco College led Cviraa elementary football team is poised to win a Palarong Pambansa title.

DBC, which features some players who are already big for their age-group in Cebu, faced bigger foes in the Palaro and beat them.

In the process, earning twice-to-beat incentive in the finals and an even valuable lesson – you can’t question your opponent’s age since – according to DepEd logic – approve na sa ilang region.

The high school team on the other hand, is on an uphill and hazardous climb. If they are to win the Palaro title, they must all play and win three games today.

You read that right. Three football matches in a day. Of course, since the vanguard for our children’s education – that’s DepEd, not friendster – is concerned with the health of the youth. They have graciously accommodated in the schedule, an hour’s rest for the team.

Perhaps, the Department of Education (Education, Education, Education) officials thought that football is as leisurely as their favorite game of tong-its, you only need an hour’s rest between games.

Pity the boys.

As to the elementary team, well, this very same vanguard (I do like to drive home the point) has overlooked a certain college student and has allowed him to play in the Palaro – not in the high school level, but mind you, in the elementary.

At last, watching TV Patrol has paid off.

Ces Oreña Drilon, without make up, went off to interview the boy’s mother and was told, at first, that her son was born on 1992, just a year off the age-limit. However, the boy’s neighbors said, “He (the boy) already graduated high school and is in college.”

After a few minutes talk, the boy’s mother admitted her son was born on 1987.

1987.

As to DBC, win or lose, the team should hold their heads high. After all, not only are they facing the other team in the field, they have to contend with the Deparment of Education.

IT seems Davao relishes in spoling Cebu’s national title dreams in football.

Davao City booted out Cebu in the Philippine Football Federation National Women’s U17 championships in San Carlos City, 3-1, in their final Group A match at San Carlos City yesterday.

Cebu only needed a draw to advance to the semifinals, however, the loss handed Davao the top spot in the Group, with two wins and a draw for seven points. Cebu has six points.

Only the top team in each of the three groups and the second best ranked team will advance to the final four.

Davao, which defeated Cebu, 5-0, to win the national ladies’ open crown last year, took the lead in the 14th, after Gabi Mercado bungled a penalty shot in the 12th.

Cebu managed to equalized in the 17th but Davao, which also defeated Cebu in the Adidas Men’s Under-19 finals in Cebu two years ago, took the upperhand again.

After another bungled penalty for a potential equalizer in the 31st, Davao put on a two goal cushion to end Cebu’s title dreams.

The Don Bosco College led elementary team scored a 3-0 win over Cagayan Valley to debut in style in the 2006 Palarong Pambansa in Naga City.

On the other hand, the Abellana National School led secondary team was not as lucky as they dropped a close, 0-1, loss to Region 4.

A parent of one player has attributed the loss to first-game jitters while Ronaldo — our resident expert at Cebufootball.blogspot — reported “Region 4 played with more discipline even if they were less skilled.they obviously followed a game plan. Cviraa again depended on the longball.”

The elementary team will next take on Romblon, who defeated Region 6, while the secondary team has improved in its second game, “Nakalitan ra dyud ang juniors nato sa first game.Nindot na ang duwa nila karon kay naa nay passing.Don’t know if they will meet region 6 (Iloilo/Negros) sa eliminations.”

Go Cebu!

Group A W D L P GD
Cebu 2 - - 6 +6
Davao 1 1 - 4 +11
Bukidnon - 1 1 1 -1
Masbate - - 2 0 -16

Group B

Iloilo 1 1 - 4 +7
Negros Oriental 1 1 4 +6
Iligan 1 - 1 0 -6
South Cotabato - - 1 0 -7

Group C (no details)
Cagayan de Oro
Rizal
Negros Occidental
Muntinlupa

CEBU moved a step closer to a semifinal berth after defeating Bukidnon, 2-1, in the Philippine Football Federation Girls-17 National Championships at San Carlos City yesterday.

Led by players from the Cebu International School, Cebu now holds the top spot of Group A with two wins, with Davao second with a win and a draw. They will next face Davao, which scored an 11-0 rout over Masbate yesterday, in their final match today.

Meanwhile, it’s not only with their skills in the pitch that Cebu is getting attention as the team, which have reinforcements from Sacred Heart School for Girls, Paref South Crest and San Roque, got the “eye of the officials and fans” for their mestiza looks.

According to Cebu Football Association president Jonathan Maximo, a Cagayan official told him “Your players look ‘imported’, they are tall and pretty,” while a Masbate player said, “Cebu players are here to join the Ms. Philippines pageant.”

However, the wards of Eleazar Toledo and Dexter Arrojado will be all business today as they take on the dangerous Davao – needing only a draw to move to the final four.

“We will have to do our best, and we also have to mark their Number 20 because she can dribble and shoot,” Toledo said.

In Group B, Iligan defeated South Cotabato, 2-1, while Iloilo and Negros Oriental fought to a 2-2 draw. In Group C, Cagayan defeated Negros Occidental, 1-0, while Marikina defeated Rizal, 2-1.

The top teams in each group will advance to the final four, along with the best second-ranked team. The best second-ranked team is now a toss-up in Group C, as NegOr and Iloilo have scored easy routs in their first game, before their draw yesterday. Both teams’ final assignments are also expected to result in routs.

Yesterday, Cebu’s captain Gabi Mercado’s shot from the top of the box in the 15th sailed between the Bukidnon keeper’s feet and Bea Maximo redirected Christine Manto’s cross three minutes into the second half for a 2-0 lead before Bukidnon took advantage of a defensive error in the 47th to get back with in one.

Merille Watson also hit the bar thrice, while striker Presley Cunningham, who scored two goals in their 5-0 win over Masbate in the first day, got injured after getting hit in the knee.

“Presley said she will play today, basin magki-ang ki-ang pa daw siya,” Toledo said.

Bukidnon kept on pressing their attack but defenders Gabby Aboitiz, Stephanie Sharpe, Mitchella Muller and Monica Trebol held their ground, while Danica Ronquillo pulled out a save 10 minutes from time to preserve the count.