La Salle survived an erratic start that saw it trail, 0-1, at halftime to beat host General Santos National High, 3-1, while Zamboanga Norte High banked on Jerry Cabahug’s two goals to nip favored M’Lang National High, 2-1.
Rodney Barro, a 15-year-old striker from Bula district, broke the ice in the 20th minute to the cheers of more than 1,000 partisan fans, mostly students of the host school.
The hosts held sway until the 47th minute, when Glenn Benolirao connected from 18 yards to knot the count.
The LSA booters applied more pressure on the locals and sealed the contest when Sean Gepaya scored back-to-back goals in the 62nd and 65th minutes.
Cabahug knocked in his first goal from 40 yards in the 25th minute, but M’Lang quickly tied the score a minute later on a followup shot by Andy Lyn Estimo.
The Zambo boosters dominated play after that and inched ahead for good in the 63rd minute when Cabahug struck anew also from 40 yards.
Philippine Football Federation president Rene Z. Adad, Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr., Councilor Maureen Rodriguez Padayao and Coke project director Jojo Rodriguez graced the opening ceremony.
The champion and runner-up will represent Mindanao in the national finals set Jan. 29-Feb. 3, next year in Iloilo C