BUKIDNON’S TOP SCORER KURBE DAIRO TRIES TO EVADE TWO DEFENDERS FROM MASBATE DURING THE SEMIS OF THE LUZON CUP AT THE JOSE V. YAP SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL COMPLEX IN San Jose TARLAC. THE BUKIDNON BOYS OF COACH GUILLIER SUMAMPONG WINS AGAINST MASBATE 9-2 TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST ONE LA SALLE.
TARLAC City, Tarlac — The prediction of the crystal ball is correct as Bukidnon Football Association (BUFA) of coach Guillier Sumampong and One La Salle of Cameroonian coach Eric Sadou Yosse barged into the championship of the Luzon Cup 2019 after scoring contrasting wins Saturday morning (Nov. 24) over separate rivals in the semis at the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex in San Jose-Tarlac.
The One La Salle boys have to dig down dip into their bags full of tricks to turn back the hard fighting RIFA Quezon City squad of veteran coach Bob Salvacion, 4-1, while the Bukidnon boys unleashed their power in the second half after a gruelling first half to turn back Masbate of coach Rex Abella of this competition organised and sponsored by Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) president Ricky Yanson Jr.
One La Salle’s leading scorer Duke Punzalan scored an early goal in less than a minute of the match after a miss-communication among RIFA Quezon City defenders inside the penalty box.
However the Claret School led RIFA Quezon City boys responded quickly as their own top scorer 10-year old Filbert Martin Tacardon equalised in the 8th minute to finish the half at 1-1.
The One La Salle boys composed of players from De La Salle Zobel, De La Salle Greenhills and De La Salle Canlubang pushed forward in the second half and tightened their defence to score three more goals to seal their seat into the championship.
Fritz Kennst Chun opened up the scoring in the second half for One La Salle as he scored in the 24th minute. Andre Bacolod then scored their third goal in the 33rd and Punzalan sealed their fate with his second goal of the match in the 48th minute.
“It was hard and like a championship match. The boys worked really hard followed instructions. I am happy for them and I am looking forward to meet Bukidnon in the championship this afternoon,’’ said coach Eric Sandou after the match.
The Bukidnon boys made up of players from Camp Philips of Del Monte Company in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon on the other hand leaned on the brilliance of Mindanao Cup MVP Dairo Kurbe before they could disposed of Masbate.
Dairo scored another hat trick, including two booming shots near the halfway line that saw Masbate’s goalkeeper Eljan Chavez scratching his head. He scored in the 8th, 18 and 43rd minutes.
Jimm Fabella and Cade Sanchez added two goals each while Loejay Jumamoy and Inigo Sevillejo added one goal each. Fabella scored in the 3rd and 34th minutes, while Sanchez’s goals came in the 6th and 36th minutes. Jumanoy and Sevillejo scored in the 32rd and 45th minutes respectively.
“We are ready for One La Salle. For sure they will press us once again just like what they did in our first meeting during the elimination round. We are ready for them. My boys know what to do now,’’ said Bukidnon coach Guillier Sumampong said when asked about their championship match.
One La Salle coach Eric Sandou for his part said that he will do exactly what they did in their first meeting during the elimination round. “We will press and we will watch out for their outstanding players,’’ he said.
The championship is set at 3 p.m. today Nov. 24 right after the battle for third between RIFA Quezon City and Masbate at 130 p.m. Awarding ceremonies will follow after the championship. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
