MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U stunned UAAP champion University of the Philippines-Eastern Petroleum, 2-0, while NCAA titlist San Beda routed University of Makati, 3-0, in the opener of the IPPCA Football Pre-Season Cup at the Nuvali football field in Sta. Rosa, Laguna over the weekend.
The Tams seized control early as midfielder Paolo Bugas scored in the eighth minute before striker Jesus Milleza knocked in another seven minutes to give FEU a 2-0 lead.
The Tams held on that lead the rest of the match to notch the win in the first-ever collegiate pre-season football league bankrolled by IPPCA members Chemrez Technologies Inc., Eastern Petroleum Corp., Filpride/USA88, Seaoil Philippines Inc., Flying V, Oilink, Unioil, International Engineer Phils., Inc., Filoil Energy Co., City Oil, Metro Oil Subic, Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketers Association, Omni Petroleum Corp., Trans Overseas Industrial Corp. and CIIS.
De La Salle University-Filoil and Ateneo-Flying V fought to a scoreless draw in the other match of the event sponsored by Meralco, Nuvali, Nature’s Spring, Molten, N20 Gastropub, Boysen Paints, BDO, Topcoms/StarSports Korea, Bacchus, CDO San Marino Corned Tuna and Pingping Lechon.
“This is a good win for us. This team is comprised of our top juniors team for the past two years, that’s why they play together well. So far, they’re playing well, especially on short passes,” said FEU coach Vincent Santos.
The State U-Eastern booters actually played minus coach Crisanto Gonzales, who is currently in Bahrain serving as an assistant coach for the Philippine Azkals.
The Red Lions and the UMAK Herons slugged it out a tough defensive match in the first half before David Franz Torneo hit the back of the net in the 57th minute.
Christopher Tedimonte followed suit in the 74th minute before Neil Dorimon capped San Beda’s scoring spree in the 86th minute.
“This is a good start for us,” said SBC coach Jeff Limon, whose wards will next face the Arellano Chiefs on Saturday.
In other seniors results, National University and guest team Philippine Christian University played to a 2-2 draw, UST-Metroil drubbed Arellano University, 3-1, and last year’s NCAA runner-up College of St. Benilde tripped Perpetual, 2-1.
Individual awardees in the inaugurals were Patrick Deyto of La Salle as the Metroil best goalkeeper; Paolo Salenga of National U as the Seaoil best striker; Enzo Bonoan of Ateneo as the Flying V best defender, Mico Mabanag, also of Ateneo as Unioil best midfielder, and UMAK, as the Eastern fair play team.