FOOTBALL powers Paref-Springdale ended its Milo Little Olympics drought in style yesterday, as the Mario Ceniza mentored squad put on a clinic to beat Abellana National School, 5-0, in the secondary finals.
“We were third placers in the last three years,” said Ceniza, whose team is only on its fourth Milo tournament.
Going into the match both teams were expected to slug it out for the crown after hacking out tough wins in the semifinals.
ANS blanked Sacred Heart School-Jesuit, 3-0, while Springdale outlasted Don Bosco College, 1-0.
Yesterday, Springdale’s pinpoint passing and a little luck put an early conclusion to the match.
Miles Tiu set the pace of the match as his header off Timothy James Matteo’s long throw got staved off.
In the next play, Tiu played the provider after Blui Arriola deflected his corner kick for the first goal of the game.
The lanky Liu again lived off the skills of his teammates after RJ Sembrano’s through pass weaved past two ANS defenders to a running Liu for a 2-0 score.
ANS, still hadn’t caught on to Springdale’s play and suffered yet again in the dying minutes of the first half with Arriola providing the assist for Liu.
A tougher ANS finally showed up in the second half and Paref keeper Paolo Pascual finally got to do some work.
Pascual staved off Rodel Saranillo’s free kick and launched an impressive diving save off another shot.
However, Springdale kept on finding the open man and the Tiu-Liu connection again paid dividends as the duo made it 4-0.
Perhaps tired from his assists, Tiu was felled by a vicious tackle that earned for the ANS defender a yellowcard.
Tiu was able to get past the defender but a late tackle, targeted at his shin felled him. He never got back to the match after that.
Miguel and Blui Arriola took the revenge for their fallen comrade with Blui banging in his little brother’s free kick for the final count.
Tournament officals have named the elder Arriola as the Most Outstanding Athlete in the secondary division and has also picked Pedro Agustin Jao of runner-up City Central School as MOA in the elementary division.
Don Bosco College took the elementary title with a 5-2 win over City Central School. Miguel Caindec, who scored four goals in DBC’s debut, also completed a hat trick in DBC’s title-defense.
In the battle for third, James Candido came up with two impressive goals as SHS-J defeated DBC, 2-0.
Candido came up with a lovely twist-and turn shot for SHS-J first goal against the erstwhile defending champion.
