MENDIOLA FC 1991 SPONSOR RICARDO PENSON RECEIVES THE HOME KIT FROM COACH DAN PADERNAL, CLUB PRESIDENT RAMONCITO INOCENCIO, AND TEAM MANAGER ERWIN GUEVARRA ISLA. WITH THEM IS ARMANDO BAJACAN JR. OF FOCUS ATHLETICS.
LONG time football backer Ricardo Penson has kept the hopes alive of Mendiola FC 1991 for the coming Philippine Football League (PFL) season after threw his full financial support to the club.
Penson, an Alumnus of San Beda College and owner of the Penson & Company Inc. (PCI) has been supporter of the San Beda University football program.
He explained that his role in the professional football club is the next logical step as he is already involved with the San Beda University Red Booters.
He said, “As longtime supporters of the San Beda University Seniors NCAA Football Team, strengthening Mendiola FC 1991 provides a full growth cycle/portal for the sport and the players.”
Penson then cemented his commitment to the professional game and to the San Beda based Mendiola FC 1991 by announcing his plan to construct the team’s home stadium in San Beda University Campus in Taytay, Rizal.
Penson was also a one time owner of the Stallion Football Club before Ernie Nierras took over. He also run for Senator in 2013. Currently he is the CEO of the multi million Manila-based transport infrastructure development company Ausphil Tollways Corporation.
Penson & Company Inc. is an equity investment and holding firm with a passion for nation building. Its subsidiaries that span over five decades of experience in infrastructure development, include 30% of existing seaports, proposed airports and tollways systems in the Philippines.
Penson made this announcements during the unveiling of the Mendiola FC 1991 home and aways kits and official lineup for PFL Season 2020. He however did not announce the amount of money he will pour on the Mendiola based club.
For the second year in a row, Mendiola FC 1991 will be donning kits created by FAT Indonesia. The home kit is in the predominant hue of red — the color of NCCA football champion San Beda University, the alma mater of most of the players and the origin of the club.
Meanwhile, the away kit is in white, which is also the school color of San Beda. “The kits were designed with the theme of ‘beat of music’ in mind because beat is rich in spirit. We hope that Mendiola FC 1991 can voice their enthusiasm to become champions of PFL 2020,” said FAT Indonesia CEO Franky Adi Thama. Mendiola FC 1991 is the first team that FAT has collaborated with outside Indonesia.
The current team is composed of Season 2019 players Niño Datoy (goalkeeper), Souleyman Mbouombouo Ndepe (center back), Jay-R Sandoval (right back), PJ Fadrigalan (center back), Aljo Paul Zabala (left back), Paolo Javier (left back), Louie Joshua Polinag (right back), Aaron Altiche (midfielder), Nimrod Balatbat (midfielder), Jay Shaun Soberano (midfielder), Rey Franco Miguel De La Torre (midfielder), Hamed Hajimehdi (midfielder), and Jim Ashley Flores (forward); transferees Ray Joseph Joyel (goalkeeper), Marvin Bricencio (midfielder), John Celiz (midfielder), Apiah Tonaldo (forward), and John Nico Macapal (forward); and new players JRV Malayo (center back), Dave Deloso (midfielder) and Sean Epili (midfielder).
“We have strengthened our lineup with a fine mix of standouts from the college tournaments, tough and experienced local players and strong foreign players,” said Mr. Erwin Guevarra Isla, Mendiola FC 1991 Management Team Leader.
Former national team player and National University coach Dan Padernal is the head coach with San Beda University mentors Nhiboy Pedimonte and Jake Cuaycong as assistant coaches and Anton Albao as the goalkeeping coach.
Focus Athletics is also supporting the squad by providing gym facilities, physical therapy and medical services. “We want to help the players sustain their fitness as they embark on their new campaign,” said Focus Athletics’ Manager Armando Bajacan, Jr.
In 2019, Mendiola FC 1991 entered the semifinals of the PFL Copa Paulino Alcantara where the team finished third place. They also scored big wins at the Youth Football League (YFL) with their U15 team making it to the YFL semis and their U17 and U19 emerging as champions.
For 2020, Mendiola FC 1991 wants to outdo last year’s performance. Mr. Isla said, “We are hoping to be among the Top Three in the PFL and give the strong teams like Ceres FC and Kaya FC more intense games like the matches that we drew with them in 2019. As far as our other teams are concerned, we are fielding a complete 25-man lineup composed of former San Beda University players at the Corporate Football League. We are still aiming to be among the top teams in the Youth Football League (YFL)…. Despite logistical challenges, Mendiola FC 1991 remains standing and proud. Our players, coaches and management are committed to investing our time and effort. At the end of the day, we fulfill our dreams to support the Filipino football community.”
For updates about the club, visit the Mendiola FC 1991 social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. PR
