Post by Usapang Football on Apr 14, 2013 15:07:30 GMT 8
pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101490/Nueva-Ecija-Olongapo-win-big-at-Central-Luzon-Futsal-league-opener
By John Bayarong
Nueva Ecija's Central Luzon State University Cobras and Olongapo City/Subic Bay's Lighthouse Amihan "Batang 'Gapo" registered convincing wins in the Central Luzon Futsal League (CL Futsal) opener yesterday at the CLSU gym.
The CLSU Cobras took top of the table on goal difference with an 8-1 win over the Tarlac State University Tigers, while the Lighthouse Amihan "Batang 'Gapo" defeated the Bulacan's Futbulakenyos, 9-5, in a thrilling continuation of their regional rivalry.
The CLSU cobras ended the first half with a narrow, 2-1 lead over TSU but found its bearing in the second half with a six-goal haul.
Allyson Bawagan scored a hatrick, Jordan Necesito and Shripland Taksin got a brace each while Levie Kachilei finished off with a goal. TSU's one goal came from Emerson Mandi.
"This is a well-deserve win for the team. It is worth the hard training and sacrifices of our preparation for the league,” Francis Cruz, CLSU coach said after the match.
In the first game, Futbulakenyos troubled the Lighthouse Amihan FC in the first half, exchanging a goal for every goal to end the first half with a 2-2 score line.
The tough Batang 'Gapo squad, however, showed its superior tactics in the second half as team captain Emil Pellezer and Oteng Fariñas rode roughshod over Bulacan's defenses, recording the league's first hatricks while Willie Mediola, Daniel Jimenez, and Raymark Maliao contributed a goal each.
"We knew they were going to pressure us in the second half, so our coach advanced our strikers knowing their goal was defenseless," Pellezer said after the match.
More games, more support
CLSU president Ruben Sevilleja welcomed the teams stressing the need to develop the sport where the Filipinos can excel at the international stage.
"We need more tournaments like this and public support for the teams to reach a higher level of footballing skills. We are proud to host the CL Futsal and we need all three variants of football--- the 11v11, futsal, and beach football, if we are to catch up with the rest of the world," Sevilleja said in his welcome speech.
The CL Futsal League is the only regional 5v5 tournament in the country using sanctioned Star balls from South Korea and under the international futsal rules of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). FIFA is the world governing body of football.
"It was a big derby day for the region. CLSU and TSU are rival champions in the State Colleges and Universities Athletics Association (SCUAA), while the Futbulakenyos and the Batang 'Gapo are always clawing it out in the regional tourneys," John Bayarong, CL Futsal league commissioner, said.
Futsal, the five-versus-five indoor variant of football, is usually played inside a basketball court or a gym.
“The Central Luzon Futsal league is a football development experiment. The main attraction for clubs and teams is playing multiple match days at different venues with coaches able to strategize each game,” Bayarong added.
Ismaeil Sedigh, chairman of the PFC and head coach of the national futsal team, said the league is good for the game.
“It shows that futsal is gaining headway into the various communities of the country,” Sedigh, who is currently campaigning in Malaysia for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal champions' league, said.
CL Futsal is a two round tournament where each team gets a maximum 3 points for every win, 1 point for a draw, and no point for a loss. The team with that earns the highest number of points after the two rounds is declared as regional champions.
The league is the first of its kind in the country where all the three variants of football, association football (11vs11), Futsal (5vs5), and beach football are played regionally on provincial representation. (30)