Post by Usapang Football on Sept 15, 2010 7:43:10 GMT 8
Great review, a greater game a nasty lawsuit. Welcome to 2007
The first month of the year has been quite a roller coaster ride for Philippine football. Both in and out the field.
First, there was that unfortunate injury to Ali Borromeo in the opening minutes of the Malaysia game, resulting to an 0-4 loss, and another 0-4 rout to Thailand in the second game.
However, with their backs against the wall, the tired, outclassed and outpaced Pinoys managed to hold on to a 0-0 draw against Myanmar, earning a load of superlatives from the Star Sports commentator and forcing the writer at aseanfootball.org to dig deep into his well of words.
“Football, at any level is a wonderful game,” said the commentator, giving credit to a gutsy team which was given no chance at all to spoil Myanmar’s semifinal chances.
“PLUCKY GOALIE CASAS FRUSTRATES MYANMAR,” screamed aseanfootball.org’s match report on the PFF-Myanmar game.
“At 1.71cm, Casas is the shortest keeper in the tournament but his safekeeping, fine judgment and agility made him then outstanding player of the night. Single-handedly, Casas kept the marauding Myanmar forwards at bay in the last 10 minutes of play plus three minutes of injury time,” aseanfootball.org reported.
Attacked, maligned and criticized at the pinoysoccer.com forum, last night’s game was vindication for Casas and also for another player—Anton del Rosario.
(The Philippines never scored in the tournament, but del Rosario did)
Right in the waning minutes of the match, del Rosario showed perfect field presence (if not perfect choice on a hair stylist) when as he was marking a Myanmar forward, the ball was returned to the top of the RP box, to a waiting striker.
Perhaps sensing Casas was out of position, del Rosario left his man and went to protect the near post, which the striker has chosen as his target.
A booming shot and an equally powerful header (which perhaps changed his ‘do) preserved the draw and left Myanmar dumbfounded.
The Philippines managed two good attacks later in the match, but a poor finish by Alvin Valeroso and a poor judgement by Ariel Zerrudo spoiled what could have been a win.
Valeroso snucked the ball high (This is football, not American football. A goal counts if it is scored below the bar). And then there is Zerrudo, the guy who missed twice, at least, from point blank in the Bacolod qualifiers, opting to take a shot from such an acute angle, instead of passing it to the open man–Philip Greatwitch I think.
Nonetheless, the team (or the Filipino lads as the commentator was saying) deserves a huge pat in the back.
Aside from that match, go check fifa.com, and find their article on the Philippines. Such great reviews from two sites in a span of a week has not occurred. And if it will happen again next month, then I will be the next American Idol.
However, just as all these positive things were happening, Philippine football might find itself in the doldrums.
The Philippine Football Federation and the National Capital Region FA are locked in a court battle. The NCRFA obtained a TRO and prevented the PFF from holding their Extraordinary Congress in Iloilo on Jan. 7. On Jan. 11, or a day before the Philippines was to play Thailand, PFF responded and called the suit “a nuisance suit” and asked the Mandaluyong court to dismiss it, citing among others, the local court has no jurisdiction as FIFA prohibits going to the local courts and instead recognizes Switzerland’s Court for Arbitration for Sports as the correct avenue.
The first month of the year has been quite a roller coaster ride for Philippine football. Both in and out the field.
First, there was that unfortunate injury to Ali Borromeo in the opening minutes of the Malaysia game, resulting to an 0-4 loss, and another 0-4 rout to Thailand in the second game.
However, with their backs against the wall, the tired, outclassed and outpaced Pinoys managed to hold on to a 0-0 draw against Myanmar, earning a load of superlatives from the Star Sports commentator and forcing the writer at aseanfootball.org to dig deep into his well of words.
“Football, at any level is a wonderful game,” said the commentator, giving credit to a gutsy team which was given no chance at all to spoil Myanmar’s semifinal chances.
“PLUCKY GOALIE CASAS FRUSTRATES MYANMAR,” screamed aseanfootball.org’s match report on the PFF-Myanmar game.
“At 1.71cm, Casas is the shortest keeper in the tournament but his safekeeping, fine judgment and agility made him then outstanding player of the night. Single-handedly, Casas kept the marauding Myanmar forwards at bay in the last 10 minutes of play plus three minutes of injury time,” aseanfootball.org reported.
Attacked, maligned and criticized at the pinoysoccer.com forum, last night’s game was vindication for Casas and also for another player—Anton del Rosario.
(The Philippines never scored in the tournament, but del Rosario did)
Right in the waning minutes of the match, del Rosario showed perfect field presence (if not perfect choice on a hair stylist) when as he was marking a Myanmar forward, the ball was returned to the top of the RP box, to a waiting striker.
Perhaps sensing Casas was out of position, del Rosario left his man and went to protect the near post, which the striker has chosen as his target.
A booming shot and an equally powerful header (which perhaps changed his ‘do) preserved the draw and left Myanmar dumbfounded.
The Philippines managed two good attacks later in the match, but a poor finish by Alvin Valeroso and a poor judgement by Ariel Zerrudo spoiled what could have been a win.
Valeroso snucked the ball high (This is football, not American football. A goal counts if it is scored below the bar). And then there is Zerrudo, the guy who missed twice, at least, from point blank in the Bacolod qualifiers, opting to take a shot from such an acute angle, instead of passing it to the open man–Philip Greatwitch I think.
Nonetheless, the team (or the Filipino lads as the commentator was saying) deserves a huge pat in the back.
Aside from that match, go check fifa.com, and find their article on the Philippines. Such great reviews from two sites in a span of a week has not occurred. And if it will happen again next month, then I will be the next American Idol.
However, just as all these positive things were happening, Philippine football might find itself in the doldrums.
The Philippine Football Federation and the National Capital Region FA are locked in a court battle. The NCRFA obtained a TRO and prevented the PFF from holding their Extraordinary Congress in Iloilo on Jan. 7. On Jan. 11, or a day before the Philippines was to play Thailand, PFF responded and called the suit “a nuisance suit” and asked the Mandaluyong court to dismiss it, citing among others, the local court has no jurisdiction as FIFA prohibits going to the local courts and instead recognizes Switzerland’s Court for Arbitration for Sports as the correct avenue.