Courtesy: Sun Star Cagayan De Oro


Northern Mindanao girls futsal team eliminated in ‘Palaro’ 2018

by Jacj Biantan

VIGAN Ilocos Sur — The NMRAA Girls Futsal team advanced to the quarterfinals in the Girls Secondary competition but came up short as they faced the high wall of eventual champion Central Visayas to conquer and ended their title hopes with a 1-3 setback at the Santa Municipal gym in Ilocos Sur.

NMRAA Girls Futsal coach Dhon Lazo showed lots of promise as they finished the elimination round with two wins and one loss to advance against the very strong Central Visayas team of coaches Rose Ton Bariñan and Milan Bordalba. Their performance was better than last year when they exited early and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

The NMRAA girls composed of Eunice Eduave, Francis Coleene Acelo, Nicole Lucino, Nizza Jorj Lazo, Ma. Chantal Van Ommeren, Jillian Bergado, Alexis Gonzales, Bridget Estrada, Megan Wong, Lourinner Lazo, Mel Grace Camarillo, Zippy Moss Medalla were gunning for an upset win against the CVIRAA team which is led by two former national youth players Itsuko Bacatan and Arantxa Trebol.

Most of the NMRAA players come from Xavier University and were beefed up of players from St. Mary’s School, Liceo de Cagayan and Bukidnon.

Alexis Gonzales booming free kick in the 11th minute found the back of the net that shocked CVIRAA goalkeeper Rizamae Ugbauhel of Mohon High School from Talisay City, Cebu Province.

CVIRAA was dominating the match but thanks to goalkeeper Eunice Eduave NMRAA held on. Coach Dhon Lazo was forced to pull out starting the ailing starting forward Ma. Chantal Van Ommeren in favor of Gonzales.

Van Ommeren, a striker from St. Mary’s School, was suffering from cramps and was forced to sit down for the rest of the match.

Gonzales then responded with that booming shot that rattled the CVIRAA girls.

However, the shock was short lived as the CVIRAA booters quickly reorganized gained composure and equalized. Former national youth player Itsuko Bacatan led the charge and quickly equalized in the 16th minute to tie the match 1-1 at the halftime.

Bacatan then went on rampage in the second as she got help from her national team team mate Arantxa Trebol to add two more goals in the 22nd and 28th minutes to complete their win.

The NMRAA booters had no answer for the onslaught and have to thank Eduave who stopped more of the CVIRAA’s attacks from reliables Sydney Gonzales and Katrina Rodriguez.

But it was the tandem of Bacatan and Trebol who gave the NMRAA lots of headaches as their masterful ball control, accurate passes and booming shots sealed their fate into the semis.

The CVIRAA booters Friday afternoon whipped rival Davao Region 6-3 in the semis and won the gold by whipping NCR, 10-1. The NMRAA booters on the other hand have an early vacation.

Other CVIRAA players are, Regine Chua, Shiela Estopito, Sydney Gonzales, Jaureece Jumawan, Peeve Layague, Katrina Rodriguez, Triza Musni, and Trisha Yu. They are from Sacred Heart School for Girls, St. Theresa’s College, and Mohon High School, Talisay Cebu.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com