MIMAROPA survives CARAGA scare to begin Palaro title defense

LAGUNA, Philippines – Reigning Palarong Pambansa kings MIMAROPA overcame a late-game CARAGA surge to open their campaign with a 3-2 win Monday, May 5, at the Laguna State Polytechnic University football field in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Leading 2-nil by halftime, the Palawan-based booters did not see CARAGA’s return coming as they gave up two goals in the second half that put their secondary division title defense in peril very early in the competition.

Romblon natives Ramil Feliciano and Jhonered Folaron put MIMAROPA in a comfortable position at the break as they scored in the 12^th and 37^th minute respectively but their Mindanao counterparts refused to wave the white flag as they played a much composed game in the second half.

Blaming the 2PM heat they played in, coach Michael June Salmo’s wards lost steam as Alberto Echin pounced on a goalkeeper’s miscue to cut their deficit to just one in the 55^th.

Jimmylito Rubantes then evened the playing field in 70^th minute as he drilled one in from short distance.

But as CARAGA was celebrating the equalizer, Jayson Rafol silenced them when he answered back just seconds later that clinched the reigning champions’ first win this year.

“Medyo mainit talaga pero focus lang. Alam ko medyo mahirap pero gagawin naming ang makakaya namin para madepensahan ang championship namin,” Salmo shared to Rappler.

(It was really hot but we need to focus. I know it’s hard but we know we can defend our championship.)

MIMAROPA faces Northern Mindanao on Tuesday, May 6, while CARAGA will try to bounce back against Bicol Region at the Laguna Sports Complex football field.

Central Visayas booters pummel Central Luzon, 12-1

After coming just short of a national title in Dumaguete last year, Central Visayas vented its ire on Central Luzon as they poured in 12 goals – nine of which coming in the second half – to stay perfect in Bracket B of the Palarong Pambansa Secondary Football contentions, Monday, May 5, at the Laguna State Polytechnic University in Sta. Cruz. 

Angelo Quano exploded for four goals as he spearheaded the Cebuanos’ onslaught to take their bracket’s top spot with two wins in as many games.

Central Visayas – which won their opening game against Cagayan Valley, 9-2, on Sunday – flexed their muscles in the early goings as Glen Ramos and Vincent Lovitos scored in the third and sixth minutes respectively. 

Christian Agot then made it 3-nil in the 37^th but he will likely miss the rest of the tournament after he injured his left ankle early in the second half that needed hospital treatment. 

Quano took over as he completed his hat trick through three consecutive goals in the 41^st, 45^th, and 51^st. 

Philippines U16 stalwart Moiselle Alforque, Alemark Jumapit, and Glen Ramos joined the fray as they added a goal each to Central Luzon’s misery.

Central Luzon was awarded with a penalty in the 66^th which Joseph Bayani converted coolly to salvage some consolation in the middle of the Visayans’ flurry.

Glen Ramos Jr. and Charles Dabaw also found the back of the net for Central Visayas before Quano wrapped up his spectacular afternoon with an 80^th minute goal.

“We are still adapting to weather here so I told my players to stick to our gameplan,” Ramos, also a former Philippines U16 coach told Rappler.

“We trained for three weeks in Cebu and one week here for this.  In Cebu, we can only train at night since they have school during the day.”

Secondary results 

May 4

MIMAROPA 1 – 0 Bicol Region

Central Visayas 9 – 2 Cagayan Valley

Cordillera 3 – 3 Davao Region 

NCR 3 – 1 Western Visayas

Northern Mindanao 5 – 2 CARAGA

Zamboanga Region 4 – 1 Central Luzon

Calabarzon 3 – 1 Eastern Visayas 

Ilocos Region 2 – 0 ARMM

May 5 

MIMAROPA 3 – 2 CARAGA

Central Visayas 12 – 1 Central Luzon 

Soccsksargen 2 – 0 Eastern Visayas

– Rappler.com