By JONAS TERRADO
January 27, 2012, 10:48pm
MANILA, Philippines � League-leading University of Santo Tomas and defending champion University of the Philippines were held to scoreless draws on Thursday in the 74th UAAP men's football action at the Ateneo pitch.
The Growling Tigers were caught by surprise by University of the East while the Fighting Maroons were also forced to a standoff by La Salle even without their suspended striker and PH U-23 mainstay Jinggoy Valmayor.
UST kept its hold of the lead with two wins, two draws and no defeats for eight points while UP remained in second spot with a 1-3-0 slate for six points.
In the other game, Jesus Melliza scored a rare hat trick as Far Eastern University trounced Ateneo, 3-1. The Tamaraws won their first game of the season to stay in third at 1-2-1 for five points.
Melliza did the trick in the 18th, 20th and 69th minutes to power FEU to the victory.
Meanwhile, women's action in both volleyball and softball resume today at The Arena in San Juan and Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, respectively.
Manila Bulletin
Friday, 27 January 2012
Sparks go for solo lead vs Stallions
The Loyola Meralco Sparks try to live up to their top billing as they dispute the solo lead with a surprisingly tough Stallion Gilligan side today in the first division of the United Football League at the Rizal Memorial pitch.
Led by brothers Phil and James Younghusband, the Sparks pulled off a 3-2 victory over the Hans Smith-mentored Green Archers United two weeks ago and a 2-1 triumph over the Armymen to show the way with the idle Kaya FC and darkhorse Stallion Gilligan�s FC with six points apiece. A win counts for three points, a draw one point and a loss none.
The Stallions, ranked outside of the top four, continued to defy the odds as they opened the season with a 6-0 rout of Navy Red Juice a couple of weeks ago and a shock 4-1 win over reigning League and Cup titlist Air Force Phoenix last Tuesday.
�This Loyola game will be a big test for us,� said Stallion team manager Ernest Nierras.
Kaya, meanwhile, plays Navy Red Juice at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the University of Makati field, looking for a victory and a continued share of the lead with the winner of the Sparks-Stallions duel.
While focus will be on the Younghusbands, Lee Joo Young will be the marked player as the Korean leads the field in goals scored with five, including a hat trick in that lopsided win over Navy.
philstar
Led by brothers Phil and James Younghusband, the Sparks pulled off a 3-2 victory over the Hans Smith-mentored Green Archers United two weeks ago and a 2-1 triumph over the Armymen to show the way with the idle Kaya FC and darkhorse Stallion Gilligan�s FC with six points apiece. A win counts for three points, a draw one point and a loss none.
The Stallions, ranked outside of the top four, continued to defy the odds as they opened the season with a 6-0 rout of Navy Red Juice a couple of weeks ago and a shock 4-1 win over reigning League and Cup titlist Air Force Phoenix last Tuesday.
�This Loyola game will be a big test for us,� said Stallion team manager Ernest Nierras.
Kaya, meanwhile, plays Navy Red Juice at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the University of Makati field, looking for a victory and a continued share of the lead with the winner of the Sparks-Stallions duel.
While focus will be on the Younghusbands, Lee Joo Young will be the marked player as the Korean leads the field in goals scored with five, including a hat trick in that lopsided win over Navy.
philstar
Injured aces out of Azkals camp
By Olmin Leyba
The Philippine Azkals will be hard-pressed to fill up huge holes especially in the midfield as a number of Europe-based pros are still uncertain for Phl XI�s upcoming training camp in the Middle East and possibly the AFC Challenge Cup campaign itself in March in Nepal.
Asked about who�s expected in the Dubai and Doha camps, Azkals coach Michael Weiss ruled out the participation of Fil-German Stephan Schr�ck and Fil-Danish Jerry Lucena and said the inclusion of Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders and Jason de Jong, Fil-Danish Dennis Cagara, Fil-Icelandic Ray Jonsson, and Fil-German Manny Ott are up in the air.
�Schr�ck is injured, he won�t come. Mulders, most likely he�ll not come. Maybe Ott, maybe de Jong, and maybe Jonsson. Lucena already confirmed he won�t come, he won�t be released by his club, � Azkals coach Michael Weiss said Wednesday night after the Azkals fought Global FC to a 2-2 draw at the Rizal Memorial pitch.
�Cagara will get a decision from a German club in the Second League; if he gets a professional contract, I don�t see him come to Dubai and most likely our chances are also slim of him playing for the Challenge Cup, but that remains open, I�m not sure about that yet. I also hope I can get (Fil-German Roland) Muller for the goalkeeper, maybe Neil (Etheridge), if he�ll be available,� he added.
With uncertainty of most of the Euro-based players, the midfield becomes a major concern for Weiss.
�(Midfield�s) very crucial. We have a couple of choices but if no one�s available, that�s gonna be a problem, so we�re working on Chris Greatwich coming over for the Malaysia match (on Feb. 29). But if all those players are not available, we have to work with local-based players from the UFL but with limited training time, of course, it�s not easy,� he said.
Weiss looks to their UAE and Qatar training camp beginning Feb. 6 as the best way to catch up as their sessions so far have been �far from ideal.� The Azkals are set to play against Al Arabi on Feb. 13 in Doha and Australian U-23 on Feb. 16 in Dubai, and one more opponent. They are negotiating with Azerbaijan for a Feb. 10 fixture.
�Overall, the situation right now, as far as Challenge Cup preparations are concerned, is far from ideal,� he said, lamenting the limited time he can assemble even the local-based players due to their commitment with their respective UFL clubs.
Wednesday�s tuneup match, he said, reflected how far the Azkals are to ideal form.
�The performance does not give us so much hope, that�s my impression, because you can see that players are somehow distracted. Why? I don�t know but the performance was far from what�s being demanded in a big tournament (coming) in six weeks� time. So we can only hope when we really get the boys to Dubai together, we can do someting better,� he said.
Weiss said compared to the Azkals� United�s showing against Korean club Icheon Citizen, the Phl XI�s latest performance versus Global was like �night and day,� although he said it was to be expected given their limited time to train together.
�Especially now with the situation in Phl internally, it�s important to have the team day by day to work on team strategy, defensive tactic, set pieces, general ball possessions, strategies, etc., the whole package that football contains, and you can pratice that most positively in a match.
�So we�ll have three good matches, three days of training (in the Middle East) and hopefully that can get us closer together,� he said.
Philstar
The Philippine Azkals will be hard-pressed to fill up huge holes especially in the midfield as a number of Europe-based pros are still uncertain for Phl XI�s upcoming training camp in the Middle East and possibly the AFC Challenge Cup campaign itself in March in Nepal.
Asked about who�s expected in the Dubai and Doha camps, Azkals coach Michael Weiss ruled out the participation of Fil-German Stephan Schr�ck and Fil-Danish Jerry Lucena and said the inclusion of Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders and Jason de Jong, Fil-Danish Dennis Cagara, Fil-Icelandic Ray Jonsson, and Fil-German Manny Ott are up in the air.
�Schr�ck is injured, he won�t come. Mulders, most likely he�ll not come. Maybe Ott, maybe de Jong, and maybe Jonsson. Lucena already confirmed he won�t come, he won�t be released by his club, � Azkals coach Michael Weiss said Wednesday night after the Azkals fought Global FC to a 2-2 draw at the Rizal Memorial pitch.
�Cagara will get a decision from a German club in the Second League; if he gets a professional contract, I don�t see him come to Dubai and most likely our chances are also slim of him playing for the Challenge Cup, but that remains open, I�m not sure about that yet. I also hope I can get (Fil-German Roland) Muller for the goalkeeper, maybe Neil (Etheridge), if he�ll be available,� he added.
With uncertainty of most of the Euro-based players, the midfield becomes a major concern for Weiss.
�(Midfield�s) very crucial. We have a couple of choices but if no one�s available, that�s gonna be a problem, so we�re working on Chris Greatwich coming over for the Malaysia match (on Feb. 29). But if all those players are not available, we have to work with local-based players from the UFL but with limited training time, of course, it�s not easy,� he said.
Weiss looks to their UAE and Qatar training camp beginning Feb. 6 as the best way to catch up as their sessions so far have been �far from ideal.� The Azkals are set to play against Al Arabi on Feb. 13 in Doha and Australian U-23 on Feb. 16 in Dubai, and one more opponent. They are negotiating with Azerbaijan for a Feb. 10 fixture.
�Overall, the situation right now, as far as Challenge Cup preparations are concerned, is far from ideal,� he said, lamenting the limited time he can assemble even the local-based players due to their commitment with their respective UFL clubs.
Wednesday�s tuneup match, he said, reflected how far the Azkals are to ideal form.
�The performance does not give us so much hope, that�s my impression, because you can see that players are somehow distracted. Why? I don�t know but the performance was far from what�s being demanded in a big tournament (coming) in six weeks� time. So we can only hope when we really get the boys to Dubai together, we can do someting better,� he said.
Weiss said compared to the Azkals� United�s showing against Korean club Icheon Citizen, the Phl XI�s latest performance versus Global was like �night and day,� although he said it was to be expected given their limited time to train together.
�Especially now with the situation in Phl internally, it�s important to have the team day by day to work on team strategy, defensive tactic, set pieces, general ball possessions, strategies, etc., the whole package that football contains, and you can pratice that most positively in a match.
�So we�ll have three good matches, three days of training (in the Middle East) and hopefully that can get us closer together,� he said.
Philstar
QCU to miss important players vs. Agila FC today
By Cheska D. Geli
Friday, January 27, 2012
QUEEN City United will be playing its second game against Agila FC in the second division of the United Football League this Sunday at the Bonifacio Global Center.
But aside from adjusting to the new football pitch, head coach Mario Ceniza expects his players to step up their game with the absence of starters Lehmar Baunsit and Ryan Lerio.
The two will be dropped from the lineup this week as Baunsit was not given clearance by his doctor to play after suffering from pneumonia, while Lerio had to go back to San Carlos City to attend to his sick son.
This will be the second consecutive time defense player Baunsit will not play for the team. He failed to make it to the debut game last week where they pulled off a 1-1 draw against Diliman Victory Liner.
Aside from that, six players from the team had been charged with yellow cards which means that another card would bench them for the next match which is against a more experienced Laos FC.
�We have to be careful because six of our players have yellow cards and it would put us at a disadvantage if we�ll miss them for our next match against Laos,� said Ceniza.
Ceniza reminded his substitute players to step-up to reserve the players for next week�s match but he said it will still depend on the situation of the game.
�Depende sa sitwasyon sa duwa. If makaya ang kontra, retain jud ang starters,� said Ceniza.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 28, 2012.
Friday, January 27, 2012
QUEEN City United will be playing its second game against Agila FC in the second division of the United Football League this Sunday at the Bonifacio Global Center.
But aside from adjusting to the new football pitch, head coach Mario Ceniza expects his players to step up their game with the absence of starters Lehmar Baunsit and Ryan Lerio.
The two will be dropped from the lineup this week as Baunsit was not given clearance by his doctor to play after suffering from pneumonia, while Lerio had to go back to San Carlos City to attend to his sick son.
This will be the second consecutive time defense player Baunsit will not play for the team. He failed to make it to the debut game last week where they pulled off a 1-1 draw against Diliman Victory Liner.
Aside from that, six players from the team had been charged with yellow cards which means that another card would bench them for the next match which is against a more experienced Laos FC.
�We have to be careful because six of our players have yellow cards and it would put us at a disadvantage if we�ll miss them for our next match against Laos,� said Ceniza.
Ceniza reminded his substitute players to step-up to reserve the players for next week�s match but he said it will still depend on the situation of the game.
�Depende sa sitwasyon sa duwa. If makaya ang kontra, retain jud ang starters,� said Ceniza.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 28, 2012.
Limpag: Half-baked preparation for Bolkiah Cup?
By Mike T. Limpag
Fair Play
Friday, January 27, 2012
NOT too many people know that before Dan Palami took over the senior team, he was the manager of the Under 19 squad that had their breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snacks handed to them in 45 minutes during the AFC Under 19 championships qualifiers in 2009.
Because of that humiliating showing, when Dan was offered the job as senior team manager, he vowed not to be as ill-prepared as the Under 19 team.
A lot of folks know that Dan was the manager of the Southeast Asian Games team last November, who, shall we diplomatically say, failed to live up to their newspaper space and TV airtime.
Aside from saying the SEAG team will be better prepared and that they will be joining the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei next month, nothing much was heard of the team before the announcement of the PFF hiring Serbian coach Zoran Dordevic a few days ago, and the announcement of a team tryout a week ago.
The last time we joined the Bolkiah Cup, we lost to Myanmar, 9-1, and Cambodia, 6-0, and to Brunei, 3-2, in the final match. That Brunei loss was painful. We were up 2-0 at half-time and lost after conceding two goals in the last two minutes. That squad had Phil Younghusband, and now UFL players Jason Cordova, Matthew Hartmann, Francis Gustilo and Dave Villon.
And now, the big question is, are we headed for a repeat of the SEAG debacle? Are we throwing in an ill-prepared team to an international competition?
The simple answer is yes as this year�s tournament will start on Feb. 25, and if they�re still conducting trials on Jan. 21�
But, it�s not as simple as that.
Dan told me the other day he�s having a hard time gathering the players for practice due to UFL and UAAP duties.
Aah, crap, the collegiate game. It is understandable why colleges hold on to their players since they�re the one paying handsomely for their scholarships but this conflict of schedule could have been avoided by a simple change of schedule�hold the damn football tournament early.
It�s the same problem in Cebu. The college season starts late to give way to the basketball season, and all other tournaments involving the age group have to wait.
This conflict of schedule, too, is what former national team Aris Caslib pointed out as one of the problems in Philippine football when he did his presentation to the PFF Board of Governors last January, 2011.
I guess his suggestion to talk with the UAAP and NCAA guys was never taken?
The Bolkiah trophy will be the first outing of this U21 squad, but it�s not the goal.
Dan is aiming for the AFF U22 contest and the SEA Games next year and I admit that this is one massive preparation.
I�m only afraid, though, that if the team does poorly in the Bolkiah Cup, which will end just as the Challenge Cup is starting, folks will remember SEAG 2011 and well, you know what I mean.
By the way, Dan said he�s going for locally-based players (take note, locally-based, not locals), so perhaps this addresses the criticism on how team chemistry was shot to hell in the SEAG when as many as six players flew in a day before the competitions.
�I�m fixing sight on U23 SEAG as promised, but this team will have to absorb initial setbacks. The good thing is that we are building strong local-based players. Raw talents still, but the new coach sees the diamonds underneath,� Dan said.
Diamonds in the rough is the perfect way to describe the team and I hope we finally see the final product in SEAG 2013.
As for the Bolkiah Cup?
I�m not expecting much but since most of the U21 members played in the SEAG, I expect them to fight as if they have something to prove because those guys really do have something to prove.
So, what�s after Bolkiah? I hope, since this won�t be the first time, the PFF will get to talk with the schools about the release of players. If clubs take a rap for not releasing players to a friendly, shouldn�t the schools/league take some of the heat, too?
�After Bolkiah, I will tour this team around to play senior teams in Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, etc. and also friendlies with UFL first divisions.�
(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 28, 2012.
Fair Play
Friday, January 27, 2012
NOT too many people know that before Dan Palami took over the senior team, he was the manager of the Under 19 squad that had their breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snacks handed to them in 45 minutes during the AFC Under 19 championships qualifiers in 2009.
Because of that humiliating showing, when Dan was offered the job as senior team manager, he vowed not to be as ill-prepared as the Under 19 team.
A lot of folks know that Dan was the manager of the Southeast Asian Games team last November, who, shall we diplomatically say, failed to live up to their newspaper space and TV airtime.
Aside from saying the SEAG team will be better prepared and that they will be joining the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei next month, nothing much was heard of the team before the announcement of the PFF hiring Serbian coach Zoran Dordevic a few days ago, and the announcement of a team tryout a week ago.
The last time we joined the Bolkiah Cup, we lost to Myanmar, 9-1, and Cambodia, 6-0, and to Brunei, 3-2, in the final match. That Brunei loss was painful. We were up 2-0 at half-time and lost after conceding two goals in the last two minutes. That squad had Phil Younghusband, and now UFL players Jason Cordova, Matthew Hartmann, Francis Gustilo and Dave Villon.
And now, the big question is, are we headed for a repeat of the SEAG debacle? Are we throwing in an ill-prepared team to an international competition?
The simple answer is yes as this year�s tournament will start on Feb. 25, and if they�re still conducting trials on Jan. 21�
But, it�s not as simple as that.
Dan told me the other day he�s having a hard time gathering the players for practice due to UFL and UAAP duties.
Aah, crap, the collegiate game. It is understandable why colleges hold on to their players since they�re the one paying handsomely for their scholarships but this conflict of schedule could have been avoided by a simple change of schedule�hold the damn football tournament early.
It�s the same problem in Cebu. The college season starts late to give way to the basketball season, and all other tournaments involving the age group have to wait.
This conflict of schedule, too, is what former national team Aris Caslib pointed out as one of the problems in Philippine football when he did his presentation to the PFF Board of Governors last January, 2011.
I guess his suggestion to talk with the UAAP and NCAA guys was never taken?
The Bolkiah trophy will be the first outing of this U21 squad, but it�s not the goal.
Dan is aiming for the AFF U22 contest and the SEA Games next year and I admit that this is one massive preparation.
I�m only afraid, though, that if the team does poorly in the Bolkiah Cup, which will end just as the Challenge Cup is starting, folks will remember SEAG 2011 and well, you know what I mean.
By the way, Dan said he�s going for locally-based players (take note, locally-based, not locals), so perhaps this addresses the criticism on how team chemistry was shot to hell in the SEAG when as many as six players flew in a day before the competitions.
�I�m fixing sight on U23 SEAG as promised, but this team will have to absorb initial setbacks. The good thing is that we are building strong local-based players. Raw talents still, but the new coach sees the diamonds underneath,� Dan said.
Diamonds in the rough is the perfect way to describe the team and I hope we finally see the final product in SEAG 2013.
As for the Bolkiah Cup?
I�m not expecting much but since most of the U21 members played in the SEAG, I expect them to fight as if they have something to prove because those guys really do have something to prove.
So, what�s after Bolkiah? I hope, since this won�t be the first time, the PFF will get to talk with the schools about the release of players. If clubs take a rap for not releasing players to a friendly, shouldn�t the schools/league take some of the heat, too?
�After Bolkiah, I will tour this team around to play senior teams in Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, etc. and also friendlies with UFL first divisions.�
(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 28, 2012.
Bacolod Football - 49 teams seeing action in Carl Lopez bootfest
The 1st Councilor Carlos Jose �Carl� Valderrama Lopez 7-A-Side Football Festival kicks off tomorrow at Bacolod City National High School pitch with at least 49 teams joining the competition.
In yesterday�s coaches and team managers� meeting at the Bacolod Government Center, tournament manager Emilio Goto said they are expecting other football clubs to beat the deadline before the event opens tomorrow.
Up for grabs are top places in five categories, boys and girls� 17 Under, girls� 13 Under, boys� 12 Under, and men�s open.
As of press deadline, teams that registered in the men�s open are Mabini Alumni A & B, Handumanan United, Barangay 28, FC Bacolod A & B, Montevista United, Barangay 3 and Jackals A and B.
Teams in the boys� 17-under are: Rising Star A & B, HandumananUnited A & B,Andres Bonifacio Elementary School FC, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos A & B, Domingo Lacson National High School, Bacolod City and St. John�s Institute.
Participating in the girls� 17 Under are two teams each from St. Scholastica�s Academy and UNO-Recoletos.
Seeing action in girls� 13 Under are; ABES FC, St. Scholastica�s Academy, Rizal Elementary School A and B, and Bata ll.
In the boys� 12 Under, the teams are: Rising Star A and B, Handumanan 1 & 2, Barangay 28, Montevista United, ABES FC A and B, St. Scholastica�s Academy A and B, Mabini Elementary School A and B, St. John�s Institute, Real Negrense A and B, Wild Fox A and B, Rizal Elementary School, UNO-R and Bata ll.*NAB
visayan Daily Star
In yesterday�s coaches and team managers� meeting at the Bacolod Government Center, tournament manager Emilio Goto said they are expecting other football clubs to beat the deadline before the event opens tomorrow.
Up for grabs are top places in five categories, boys and girls� 17 Under, girls� 13 Under, boys� 12 Under, and men�s open.
As of press deadline, teams that registered in the men�s open are Mabini Alumni A & B, Handumanan United, Barangay 28, FC Bacolod A & B, Montevista United, Barangay 3 and Jackals A and B.
Teams in the boys� 17-under are: Rising Star A & B, HandumananUnited A & B,Andres Bonifacio Elementary School FC, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos A & B, Domingo Lacson National High School, Bacolod City and St. John�s Institute.
Participating in the girls� 17 Under are two teams each from St. Scholastica�s Academy and UNO-Recoletos.
Seeing action in girls� 13 Under are; ABES FC, St. Scholastica�s Academy, Rizal Elementary School A and B, and Bata ll.
In the boys� 12 Under, the teams are: Rising Star A and B, Handumanan 1 & 2, Barangay 28, Montevista United, ABES FC A and B, St. Scholastica�s Academy A and B, Mabini Elementary School A and B, St. John�s Institute, Real Negrense A and B, Wild Fox A and B, Rizal Elementary School, UNO-R and Bata ll.*NAB
visayan Daily Star
Friday--January 27th, 2012
Matty V. has a couple of stories on the UMass connections in the Super Bowl: Cruz and Ihedigbo, a match made at UMass. And opportunity knocks for James Ihedigbo.
Cruz's Giants bio page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihedigbo has a weekly prayer call with his mother before a game.
Ihedigbo's Patriot's bio page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UMass recruited the Pats Sterling Moss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Athlon Sports has a bunch of coaches with UMass connections as possible replacements for Greg Schiano at Rutgers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As every football fan in America now knows, Greg Schiano accepted the HC job at Tampa Bay.
Coach Molnar talked about recruiting the Northeast for UMass. The Scarlet Knights commits list has 18 recruits all but two of them from NJ and PA.
A coaching change invalidates a commitment, even a signed LOI, so I would expect UMass to be making a pitch to some of the Rutgers recruits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston College loses a three star recruit to Harvard. UMass had recruited McShea as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the Senior Bowl, the spotlight is on tight ends.
CBS Sports said Emil Igwenagu passed "the eyeball test".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is it just me or is Bill Belichick channeling Obi Wan Kenobi?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cruz's Giants bio page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihedigbo has a weekly prayer call with his mother before a game.
Ihedigbo's Patriot's bio page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UMass recruited the Pats Sterling Moss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Athlon Sports has a bunch of coaches with UMass connections as possible replacements for Greg Schiano at Rutgers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As every football fan in America now knows, Greg Schiano accepted the HC job at Tampa Bay.
Coach Molnar talked about recruiting the Northeast for UMass. The Scarlet Knights commits list has 18 recruits all but two of them from NJ and PA.
A coaching change invalidates a commitment, even a signed LOI, so I would expect UMass to be making a pitch to some of the Rutgers recruits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston College loses a three star recruit to Harvard. UMass had recruited McShea as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the Senior Bowl, the spotlight is on tight ends.
CBS Sports said Emil Igwenagu passed "the eyeball test".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is it just me or is Bill Belichick channeling Obi Wan Kenobi?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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