Negros 1st booters eye twin titles today

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.

WILL the host-Negros 1st teams be able to preserve their Negrense pride today?

Two teams from the host-province of Negros Occidental, the Negros 1st, will vie for the titles in the U14 and U18 girls� divisions in the championship matches Friday in the 1st Gov. Alfredo G. Mara�on Jr. U-14 Girls National Football Selections Tournament 2011 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.


In the U14 division, Negros 1st will face tournament leader Rizal Football Association (RIFA) at 3 p.m.


The Negrenses earned the break for a rematch against RIFA after winning over Davao FA, 1-0 during the semi-final match Thursday. Mikaela de Asis scored Negros 1st and the match�s lone goal in the 65th minute.

Meanwhile, RIFA trashed San Carlos Football Club (FC), 3-0 behind the goals of Ma. Pamela Denise Diaz (16�), Ana Beatrice delos Reyes (58�) and Michaela Celine Adriano (69�).

Negros 1st on Wednesday bowed to RIFA 2-0.

In the U18 division, though Negros 1st and Iloilo FA are assured of the finals slot Friday afternoon, they have to play against each other at 8 a.m. Friday for their last assignment in the eliminations.


Both squads are on top of the team standing, undefeated with three wins apiece.

Negros 1st demolished Zamboanga, 17-0 followed by a win over Cebu FA (3-0) and Negros Oriental FA (NORFA), 5-0 while Iloilo blanked Cebu FA (6-0), NORFA (10-0) and Zamboanga (15-0).

In their match against NORFA on Thursday, Natasha Camille de Asis led Negros 1st scoring two goals in the 19th and 68th minutes. But before de Asis nailed her first goal, Carmela Marie Lizares started the Negrenses� offense with a goal in the 14th minute, followed by Pearl Anjanette Aguilar�s goal in the 22nd minute that closed the first half with a 3-0 advantage.


In the second period, two more goals were added, courtesy of de Asis� second goal and Jean Bridgette Kadil�s goal in the 77th minute.

The organizers disclosed that this annual selection procedure in the province will allow the national coaches to scout for competitive players to represent the country in the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-14 Girls Festival of Football scheduled June 8-15, 2011 in Vietnam.


Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on April 15, 2011.