Postscript of the PFF U22 Championships

Atty. Jerry Centro (left) is the Team Manager of One Surigao team and Stephen Gorgonio is the current President of the Surigao del Norte Football Federation. The dynamic helped form and organized a strong football team composed of the best of club players in Surigao City and Tandag City, hence One Surigao. 

The boys got to play the official FIFA approved balls for this tournament. 

The one who interviewed Atty. Centro is Mario Simorlan, a radio blocktimer and reporter who is also the immediate past President of the Surigao del Norte Football Association. 

Butuan team

Surigao Team

All teams except the host Surigao team are billeted in pension houses in the city complete with air condition rooms and cable tv. Some teams have their own buses. 

The tournament was graced by Mr. Cyril V. Dofitas, the tournament director of the PFF U22. Aside from supervising the tournament, Mr. Dofitas also wanted to look at the Surigao football field and was accordingly satisfied. Except for the lights which was found inadequate for being too low, the Surigao football field was adjudged as excellent especially its location where it is in the heart of the city near hotels and accommodation facilities. 

Referees earned as much as 1,000 pesos per game. The job looks promising for a sideline but accordingly the qualification is tough with physical test that determines ones fitness and endurance. 

The Surigao coaching staff. Head coach Christiano Repeso (center) and Mark Salubre Manlimos, assistant coach (partly hidden) and Victor Gorgonio, adviser (left). Repeso and Manlimos are both connected with San Juan FC and Gorgonio with Surigao United. 

The Surigao del Norte Football Association hosted a dinner with coaching staffs of the participating teams as well as tournament officials at Tavern Hotel where everything about Mindanao football were discussed and shared. 

One Surigao team also had its beach party on the next day at Mabua beach. Its a great way to reward themselves with their hardwork and excellent showing in the recent PFF U22 tournament.  Just a few miscues that denied them of greater achievement in this tournament but the boys showed a good promise. The activity is attended by SDNFA President Stephen Gorgonio and the coaching staff. 

So there you go folks. The next would be about photos and it will be the last one related to the tournament. Until next time guys! 

Smart PFF U22: One Surigao salvages a win against Butuan 2-1

Surigao City - Saving the best for last.That is what the host One Surigao team is doing  against an equally determined Butuan side in the last game in the Group E competitions of Smart PFF Under 22.

The first goal from One Surigao was courtesy of Alberto Echin Jr.which is his second  in as many games he played.  Echin, who is a mainstay of the University of the East in the UAAP was called all expenses paid just to beef up the One Surigao IX.  It paid off as Echin scored two goals in the two games that he suited up for One Surigao. 

One Surigao increased its lead with a sublime through ball that found Nikko Chad Concha all alone and slotted the ball against a diving goalkeeper.

Nikko Chad Concha scored after a through ball

The two goal cushion however was gone when Butuan scored a goal midway into the second half.  The game turned messy later in the second half as emotions got into the players with each team being given red cards for hard fouls and unsportsmanlike behavior.  

One Surigao held on to the slim lead at the final whistle. With the win, One Surigao finished third with 4 points behind Iligan with 6 and the eventual winner, Bukidnon with 7. Butuan finished last without a point but with one goal at the final tally. 

PFF U22: One Surigao steals a point against Bukidnon 2-2

Surigao City - One Surigao was able to steal a point from the Bukidnon side in a dramatic fashion as it tries to show a respectable finish in the ongoing PFF Smart Under 22 Championships. 

Bouyed by their opening day conquests of Butuan/Agusan del Norte FA, Bukidnon lost no time in unleashing its attack on One Surigao team.  Not long thereafter, Bukidnon scored its first goal courtesy of left wing Marc Joseph Macabale in the 7th minute. Ten minutes later, his teammate Clint Agustin Timones added another goal in the 17th minute to complete their shock and awe treatment on the clueless hosts. 

Clint Agustin Timones score the opening goal for Bukidnon

It looks like One Surigao is resigned to another frustrating day when their hope came alive in the added time when Alberto Echin Jr. outsmarted the goalkeeper who rush to him by beating him and scored on an empty net.  

Goalkeeper Raneil Tare celebrated after Echin scored the opening goal for One Surigao before halftime 

Bukidnon resumed their dangerous attacks on One Surigao goal in the second half. But good defense coupled with great stops by goalkeeper Reneil Tare and One Surigao kept the visitors at bay. 

Bukidnon suffered a setback in the second half when striker Clayton Bhai ask to be relieved after suffering an injury.  Few minutes after Bhai's relief, all hell broke loose when Jerald Anghag scored a spectacular shot in the 64th minute. 

Set up from midfield, Anghag received the ball which bounced cleanly above his head. Sensing an opportunity, Anghag unleashed an acrobatic bicycle shot that sent the hometown crowd into frenzy. One Surigao completed a monumental comeback against a very talented Bukidnon IX. 

One Surigao players whoop it up after Anghag scored an equalizer

Both teams tried to breakaway from a looming draw, with Bukidnon getting a good share of opportunities including the one when Tare missed the ball, only to find a very late Bukidnon attacker before it went out of line. 

Both teams settled for a draw. All is not lost however for Bukidnon, as it still can win the No. 1 spot when it will tackle undefeated Iligan in the first encounter this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. With four points, Bukidnon can overtake Iligan which has 6 points with a win today catapulting it to 7 points.  For Iligan, all it has to do is to force a draw and it will qualify to the national finals in Bacolod on February 2016. 

One Surigao on the other hand will try to win its game today against Butuan and can finish second place depending on the outcome of the Bukidnon-Iligan game. Or it might end up last should it will lose to the still winless Butuan City in their 3:30 encounter today. 

Bukidnon 2-2 One Surigao 

Bukidnon FA: Marc Joseph Macabale 7'; Clint Agustin Timones 17' 
One Surigao: Alberto Echin Jr. 45+'; Jerald Anghag 64'