PROLIFC STRIKER KURBE DAIRO IS FOULED BY THE THE ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE-DIPOLOG TEAM DURING THE OPENING MATCH WHERE THE BUKIDNON BOYS WON 3-1, WITH DAIRO SCORING TWO GOALS.
DAVAO City — The Bukidnon boys of coach Guiller Sumampong of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School (OLLES) in Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon have rampaged into the semis of the Mindanao Cup after sweeping the elimination round and yesterday (Oct. 24) dominating Iligan Football Academy of Iligan Lanao del Norte 12-1, in the quarter-finals at the Tionko filed in Davao City.
Kurbe Dairo, a prolific striker from OLLES scored five goals to once again lead the Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA) booters with five goals scoring a hat trick in the first half and added two more in the second half to complete the sweep.
Cade Sanchez also added a hat trick while Zacari Verdaflor, Prince Aseniero, Adriel Algador, and Jimm Fabela score one goal each to secure their place in the semis against Mount Apo Regional FA (MARFA) today (Oct. 25) at 7:15 in the morning. The other semis match will be between Davao City Red team and Davao City White team at 8:40 a.m. Renante Apiag Jr. scored a consolation goal for Iligan.
The BUFA team, made up of selected players from all over Bukidnon swept the elimination round winning over Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog FA 3-1, Socsargen FA 3-0, and Davao RFA Red team 3-2.
Dairo, the son of public school teacher from Plantation Elementary School Dioscoro Diaro, has been impressive in this tournament scoring most of the goals for Bukidnon including a smashing half court smasher against Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog FA during their 3-1 opening match win.
“This boy is very young but very skilful and strong. He has a bright future ahead of him,’’ said his coach Guiller Sumampong. He has also being eyed by NOFA coaches who have been observing players by the sidelines during the entire tournament.
“I am impressed. He is good,’’ said NOFA coach Noel de Oca.
One reason why the BUFA team has been very dominant is because most of their players are playing for the Bukidnon team for the coming Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) meet in Tubod, Northern Mindanao next month.
According to assistant coach Jaysan Andagan, the team is prepared and they have really selected the best players of the year 2008-2009 age group. “We are also thankful for the coaches in Bukidnon who really supported the team by sending the players we want for the team,’’ he said.
Unfortunately is a different story for the Cagayan de Oro team of coach Marlon Merlin although they are still in contention for the Plate trophy as they barged into the semis when they whipped a hapless Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian side 10-0, in the quarter finals.
Team top scorer Zen Daryn Pagasian once again showed off his scoring talent with five-goal explosion to lead the Little Me Academy FC.
He shrugged off their heartbreaking last elimination round match loss to Sultan Kuadarat. They were leading 1-0 early but then collapsed in the end game 1-3, to finish with one win and two loses in the elims.
They lost to a very strong Davao White team in their first assignment during the opening day 8-0, but came back with 11-1, rout of Agusan del Sur FA where Pagasian scored six goals, Jian Esoy two, and Franklin Bagona and Yuuel Brent Lamparas adding one goal each.
Little Me Academy FC could have sent a very strong team had some of the CdO coaches allow their players to play in the tournament, Coach Merlin had to face last minute withdrawals by some players after they were threatened by a coach to be banned from playing in the NMRAA competition.
Despite of the setback, the CdO team still qualified for the Plate trophy competition after scoring a total of 12 goals in the elims. The cat quick Pagasian is in contention for the top scorer of the tournament after scoring a total of 12 goals, six of them against Agusan del Sur-Butuan, one in their 1-3 loss against Sultan Kudarat and five in the Plate contest quarter final against Zamboanga de Norte-Pagadian.
They will play the plate semis against ZANDIFA team from Zamboanga City while the other semis match will be between BENFA and SOCSARGEN. Tournament organizer and patron Ricky Yanson will award the trophies after the championship in the afternoon. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
