SMS GIRLS FUTSAL TEAM WITH COACH PAUL CABIO (standing right) FUTSAL GIRLS TITLE IN THE SOUTH DISTRICT MEET.
PERINIAL runner-up in the Cagayan de Oro City Division meet, St. Mary’s School in Macasandig, will be heavily favored in the Girls Futsal event of annual tournament set at the end of this month.
This after the Higala FC trained SMS Girls flexed their muscles in the South District meet whipping Corpus Christi School 17-0, held at the Bulua National High School court.
SMS has been to the City meet Girls Futsal final thrice against Xavier University and thrice they failed to capture the championship.
But this time they want to make sure that they will capture the City meet title and represent Cagayan de Oro in the Region X meet.
Players of coach Paul Cabio are members of Cagayan de Oro’s most successful youth football club Higala FC.
Groomed to be the best Futsal players in the region by Cabio and former Higala coach and now Australia based Weng Dela Riarte, the SMS girls will definitely be tough to beat..
Three of them, Malaika Ingrid Chaves, Gail Leanne Loking and Chavonne Joelle Uy saw action in the Batang Pinoy Girl U15 team in Puerto Princesa, Palawan of coach Dhon Lazo.
The CdO team finished runner-up to San Carlos City team of Negros Occidental in the competition organised by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) aimed at discovering young prospects for the national team.
Chaves was the top scorer of the CDO team in Palawan while Loking was the starting central defender while Uy was the starting goalkeeper.
Aside from the three Batang Pinoy veterans, coach Cabio’s girls will be led by probably the best young lady striker in Region X today Maria Chantal Van Ommeren daughter of Edward and Sally Paras Van Ommeren.
Van Ommeren is a cat quick striker with excellent ball skills and booming scoring touch.
“God willing I wish we can win against XU this time but it depends on how the girls will respond to the challenge,’’ said Cabio.
Completing the cast of the SMS girls are Angel Kaye Buendia, Alexa Cristy Cailing, Ma. Roella Causin, Laica Pajara, Faye Margella Ramirez, Bianca Czarina Razon, and Trixa Marie Sustinto.
They are expected to face rough sailing against rivals Xavier University of coach Dhon Lazo and Bulua Strikers of coach Jun Actub.
XU will represent West 1 District while Bulua will represent West 2 District. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
