MTI scores 5-1 win over Blessed John

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue Technical Institute posted the first win not only in football, but for all of the sporting events featured in the 2011 Milo Little Olympics-Visayas at the Cebu City Sports Center.

MTI dumped Blessed John Seminary with a convincing 5-1 victory at the start of secondary football competition last night.

The local tournaments MTI had participated and won in the past few months have honed their skills and boosted their morale to make a good start in this event.

John Dexter Espiritu broke the ice for MTI's booters as he knocked in the first goal on the eighth minute.

The Seminarians tried to bring the game back to square one, but MTI goalkeeper Jaybee Malinao thwarted their attacks and the score remained 1-0 at the break.

Two minutes into the second half, Richel Villarba made it 2-0 for MTI and it seemed all downhill from there for their opponents.

Back-to-back goals by Vince Andrew Duoso gave MTI a very comfortable 4-0 lead.

Rudy Miller provided a small spark of hope for the Seminarians, but time was running out and they were still down, 4-1.

Miller worked harder after his goal, but the extra effort resulted instead into an injury.

MTI's Espiritu settled the final count.

Three more games were scheduled last night under the secondary division and four games in the elementary level.

On the other hand, defending secondary champion, Abellana National School starts its title defense today.

ANS will be facing the winner between last year's fifth placer University of Southern Philippines Foundation and St. Joseph School of Mactan. 

Last year's runner-up Don Bosco Technology Center will be facing MTI this afternoon.

Both ANS and DBTC are seeded in this event being the no. 1 and 2 last year.

Also scheduled to play today are Paref-Springdale against Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. Bright Academy goes up against the University of San Jose-Recoletos while Cebu City National Science High School goes opposite Compostela NHS.

In the elementary division, defending champion Paref-Springdale awaits the winner between DBTC and Asian Learning Center for their first game.

There are five other games scheduled in the lower division.

Only the football competition started yesterday while taekwondo will begin next Saturday yet. — THE FREEMAN