PFF, Suzuki renew deal for U-23 Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH) have renewed their partnership for the staging of a bigger, wider-scoped PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup this year.

PFF president Nonong Araneta and SPH president Satochi Uchida signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday to get the ball rolling for the tournament expected to be a source of players for the Phl team to the next SEA Games.

“This is a good opportunity for us to see available local talents,” said Araneta.

Last year, the inaugural PFF Suzuki Under-23 tourney produced an exciting batch of players, led by Joshua Beloya of holders Negros Occidental FA, who went on to bring his act to the 2011 SEA Games, along with Neckson Leonora of Iloilo and Jinggoy Valmayor of NCR.

The second edition will have a cutoff age of 22, and competition will be spread over two years. Cluster qualifying round and succeeding regional finals will be held this year and the national finals will be staged in 2013.

“We’ll have a more exciting tournament this year and there will be more games. We’re counting about 126 matches to be played all throughout the country as all our 33 provincial associations will have the chance to host matches,” said Araneta.

Uchida said the parternship with PFF underscores Suzuki’s commitment to developing young Filipino booters.

“We give premium to this partnership because it puts Suzuki into forefront of enabling local talents to be the best in their fields. The now big names like Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Roel Gener and Paolo Pascual have started as humble provincial players and are now conquering ASEAN,” Uchida said.

The Visayas cluster elimination kicks off action on Mar. 18 in Dumaguete City, followed by the Northern Mindanao cluster qualifiers on Mar. 25 in Cagayan de Oro and Luzon on April 1 in Calamba, Laguna.

According to PFF competitions department head Cyril Dofitas, 10 teams – three each from Luzon and Visayas and four from Mindanao – will advance to the national finals.

He added that the semifinals and the finals will feature a home-and-away format, giving teams the chance to play in front of their home fans.