MANILA, Philippines - Erstwhile unbeaten leader Urdaneta Tarsiers, suffered back-to back losses, including one to the cellar-dwelling team Manila Soccer Academy (MSA ) in the Rexona-Republic Cup recently.
Loyola Agila dealt the Tarsiers a 4-1 drubbing behind the heroics of Miguel Vargas who scored two goals and Tristan and Gino Tongson.
Then the MSA booters dealt the Tarsiers a 3-0 shutout for the former’s first victory in the tournament sponsored by Rexona and supported by Belo Essentials, The Bar, Molten, IL Ponticello, 89.1, and Balls TV.
MSA led by a goal in the first half courtesy of Neco Lamby and added two more goals through Nitch Severino and Aldous Albares in the second half.
Caliraya, meanwhile, picked up two wins last weekend, beating first the Makati Titans, 5-0, with Izo Elhabib booting in two goals, Ali Borromeo scoring two more and Philip Zemen accounting for a goal.
The fifth victory for Caliraya came at the expense of Loyola Agila as Elhabib and Zemen ran wild with three goals each as it pulled off a 6-3 victory enabling Caliraya to take the lead with its 5-1-1 win-loss-draw slate against the Tarsiers’ 5-2-1 record.
The Makati Titans, meanwhile, edged out Salcedo 2-1 on a last minute goal by Xavi Lim who scored both goals for his team, Antonio Alfelor was lone scorer for Salcedo, the other game had Salcedo and MSA battling to a 2-2 draw with MSA scoring both its goals in the second half.
Loyola remains at third, Titans are in fourth, Salcedo in fifth, and MSA remains at the bottom of the standings.