Masbate virtual champ in Luzon Coke Go-for-Goal

Masbate blasted Camarines Norte, 7-0, yesterday and virtually clinched the Luzon crown in the Coke Go-for-Goal under-16 football tournament at the Philsports field in Pasig City.

John Escauriaga and Renante Ursal drove in two goals each to propel the Masbate boys to their best showing in 20 years in the soccerfest organized by the Philippine Football Federation and sponsored by Coca-Cola Export.

With its third straight triumph, Masbate automatically earned a slot in the national finals set Feb. 6-10 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. The No. 2 team in Luzon and the top two squads in Visayas and Mindanao will also play in the national finals.

Legazpi-Albay’s Pag-asa National High ripped Rizal’s Roosevelt College (Rodriguez Campus), 5-0, in the other match to tie idle National Capital Region’s 2-win, 1-loss record.

John Robert Beniza sizzled for the Bicolanos by scoring four goals. The fifth marker came from Marvin Bigueras.

NCR’s Ateneo de Manila Universty and Legazpi-Albay will dispute the second Luzon slot in the national finals when they clash at 8 a.m. today at the Philsports field.

Masbate meets Rizal in the other game at 10 a.m.