Negros routs Iloilo, cops Suzuki Cup title

 BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  – What was expected to be an exciting showdown for football supremacy turned into a one-sided affair as Negros Occidental routed rival Iloilo, 9-0, to rule the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup Sunday night in this football-loving city.

Fired up by the controversy that surrounded their 3-1 win in extra time in the first leg, the hosts pounced on the absence of key Iloilo players and bombarded their guests with goals after goals, bannered by the hat-trick of Gino Palomo, en route to a merciless rout and a 12-1 aggregate romp.

“The players deserve commendation, even though we didn’t have enough preparations, they were able to pull together, meet our pre-tournament expectations of winning the championship,” said coach Norman Fegidero Jr. in Filipino.

The two-leg finale between the two football powerhouses got embroiled in off-field controversy, making the rivalry all the more intense. The Ilonggos placed the Negrenses’ 3-1 first leg win under protest, citing rules on the implementation of extension periods in home-and-away duels.

The PFF initially upheld the protest, voiding the two additional 15 minutes played and reverting the count to its original 1-1 score at regulation.

The discussions stretched until the eve of the second leg, which eventually led to another PFF verdict that brought the final score back to 3-1, with the red cards slapped on Iloilo goalie Wilson Munoz and defender Rhante Bayquin and their subsequent suspension enforced for the second leg.

“That (brouhaha) actually lifted the morale of the players. We saw how Iloilo maneuvered to reverse the outcome (of the first leg). It gave our players the motivation to play with a lot more fire,” Fegidero said.

Negros Occidental immediately made their assault on Iloilo’s backup keeper Vince Braga, as Fil-Swiss Joshua Beloya connected off a free-kick from 30 yards at the sixth minute. Aldrin Dorino followed it up with a looper following a scramble in the 27th then Palomo volleyed against two defenders (38th) and later booted it home off a cross from Beloya (45th) to go into intermission with a 4-nil cushion.

Not even a change in goalkeeper (Jomar Lestiongo) could turn Iloilo’s fortunes as Palomo found the net anew five minutes into the second half and Beloya slotted in off a free-kick (70th).

Ralph Layumas then made back-to-back goals as Iloilo let him march into the goal nearly uncontested in the 79th and 80th, in what was seen by some observers as either an act of frustration or unsportmanship.

Jake Morallo wrapped up scoring for the hosts with a one-on-one drive to the goal.

Dolino was adjudged MVP to lead three other teammates in the individual awards roster, Best Goalkeeper John Mendoza, Best Defender Camelo Tacusalme and Best Striker Beloya, a potential Azkal and member of the Phl U-23 team to the SEA Games who knocked in 14 goals in the meet. Iloilo’s Francis Gustilo took the Best Midfielder plum while Dipolog was accorded the Fair Play award.