THE CDO U15 FUTSAL GIRLS TEAM ARE ALL SMILES IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AFTER THEIR TWIN VICTORIES IN THE BATANG PINOY FUTSAL NATIONAL FINALS.
THE Cagayan de Oro U15 Girls team of coach Dhon Lazo overcame the hostile crowd and displayed loads of guts to defeat two tough teams Thursday (Aug. 29) and secure a semis slot in the Batang Pinoy U15 National Finals at the Western Philippines University covered courts in Punta Princesa, Palawan.
Unmindful of the partizan crowd that backed the host team Puerto Princesa, the CdO Girls rallied in the second half to beat the host team 3-1.
The CdO Girls then confidently swept the Dasmarinas team of Cavite, 3-0, to secure a place in the semis set today (Aug. 30) against Mandaluyong City.
The Punta Princesa Girls took the early lead scoring their first goal. Malaika Chavez of St. Mary’s School however, quickly responded for the CdO Girls to tie the match at the half.
Chavez, who is now the top scorer of the team, then added another goal in the early part of the second half while substitute Frances Marie Sebial of Bulua National High School scored the third goal to cement their second win in the tournament.
Puerto Princesa tried to rally but the CdO defence put up by goalkeeper Chevonne Uy of St. Mary’ s School and Gail Loking also of St. Mary’s School frustrated the the host team.
It was a different story in the second match as the CdO Girls went full throttle from the start to finish to punish the Dasmarinas Girls.
This time it was team captain Mikaella Lazo who led CdO Girls soaring the first goal. The Bulua National High School Girls of coach Jun Actub Liezel Catamco and Frances Sebial then finished off the Dasmarinas Girls scoring one goal each to assure their placein the semis.
Substitute goalkeeper Ellalaine Micabalo of Lumbia National High School also had a break out performance keeping a clean sheet for the CdO Girls for the first time in the week long competition organised by the Philippine Sports Commission to develop young players for the national team.
“Our first match against the host team was tough as the crowd was against us. It put lots of pressure to the girls that allowed them to score the first goal,’’ coach Lazo said.
He added that luckily the CdO Girls made adjustments in the second half. They then stepped up in the second resulting to the win.
“The first win bolstered the girls and kept their composure and executed the plays properly,’’ he said.
The CdO girls now have three wins and one loss and will face Mandaluyong City while Zamboanga City will face San Carlos City in the other semis clash.
CdO U15 team: 1. LAZO, Mikaella Anne – XUJHS – Pivot/Flank; 2. UY, Chavonne Joelle – SMS – GK; 3. ARCADIO, Fatima – Rosevale Flank; 4. KAAMINO, Kahlista Kyan – Rosevale- Anchor; 5. CHAVES, Malaika Ingrid – SMS – Flank; 6. CATAMCO, Liezel – Bulua NHS – Flank/Anchor; 7. ACTUB, Jewel – SMAC – Flank; 8. SEBIAL, Marie – Bulua NHS – Flank; 9. LOKING, Gail – SMS – Anchor; 10. MICABALO, Ellaliene – Lumbia NHS – GK; 11. PALATES, Norjean – Canitoan NHS – Flank; Dhon Lazo (Head Coach: Jersey Miaco (Assistant Coach) (l.biantan@gmail.com)
