PROLIFIC SCORER CARLOS GLODOVE OF ILIGAN LANAO REGIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (ILRFA) (left) SCORES A HAT-TRICK IN THEIR 3-3 DRAW AGAINST ZAMBOANGA BASILAN SULU TAWI-TAWI FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (ZAMBASULTA FA) GROUP F OF THE 2ND DIVISION OF THE PFF U19 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 AT THE MINDANAO CIVIC CENTER IN TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE. (PHOTO BY JACK BIANTAN)
TUBOD, Lanao de Norte — THE sun was hot but action on the pitch was hotter as the strong Iligan Lanao Regional FA (ILRFA) battled a fighting Zamboanga Basilan, Sulu Tawi-Tawi Football Association (ZAMBASULTA FA) squad to a 3-3 draw in the first day of action in Group F Mindanao elimination tournament of the PFF National Boys U19 tournament 2nd Division at the Mindanao Convention Center (MCC) in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
An equaliser from defender Vincent Angelo Abucay from the penalty spot in the 85th minute saved the day for the Zamboanga Peninsula kids after they trailed by one goal with five minutes more remaining of regular time.
They have to thank ILRFA’s regular goal keeper Asharf Musa who was dismissed from the match after a hard foul on striker John Rey Bundajon inside the penalty box.
Bundajon was about to score an equaliser in an empty goal after escaping the defenders including the goalkeeper in a counter attack.
Musa tried to stop Bundajon from scoring but instead hit him with his foot. Match referee Angie Capacite did not hesitate to send him off and reward a penalty.
Defender Vincent Angelo Abucay then calmly booted the penalty shot to the left side of replacement goalkeeper Gabriel Cuares that insured ZAMBASULTA FA the equaliser and salvaged a point.
“We were in the brink of winning this match but that red card and the penalty really hurt,’’ said ILRFA coach Amor Tapi-on.
It was a disappointing finish for coach Tapi-on of ILRFA as prolific midfielder Carlos Glodove lifted them with a hat-trick, rallying and leading earlier in the second half after trailing 2-1 at halftime.
The lads of coach Reynan Marzan of ZAMBASULTA FA started hot with willy and skilful striker Solito Galoyon Jr. scoring the opening goal in the 8th minute.
However, Glodove from Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte scored his first goal in the 18th minute after receiving a cross from striker July Vicente to equalise.
It was a see saw battle from there on but the ZAMBASULTA FA kids pushed harder and John Rey Bundajon scored a go ahead goal in the 40th to insure their 2-1 halftime advantage.
The Iligan and Lanao boys however refused to give up and Glodove showed his brilliance in the second half as he scored in the 51st and 75th minutes to complete his hat-trick to put them ahead 3-2.
However, the football gods have their own plans as the ZAMBASULTA FA boys capitalised on the error of the ILRFA goalkeeper to salvage a draw.
ZALBASULTA FA coach Marzan on his part was not happy with the officiating but commended his players for a ‘job well done’. “The boys fought hard. ILRFA is a strong team,” he said.
It was a hard match with both teams trying to use every trick to out smart each other. Despite of the tough plays, surprisingly the referee produced only three cautions and one red card. Solito Galoyon Jr. received a yellow card in the 34th while defender Derick Perez was cautioned in the 5th.
Sean Maurice Tam of ILRFA received a caution for an illegal tackle on ZAMBASULTA FA defender Jhallen Aningalan which almost resulted into a fight. Cooler heads however prevailed as ZAMBASULTA FA coach Marzan substituted the furious Aningalan.
In the second match Pagadian Zamboanga de Sur-Sibugay RFA (PAZSSRFA) trounced Misamis Occidental-Ozamiz FA (MOOFA) 3-0 to lead the pack.
ILRFA will play PAZSSRFA AT 8 a.m. today while MOOFA will clash with ZAMBASULTA FA at 3 p.m. (jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
