UFL stars test U-23 side

MANILA, Philippines - The stars of the United Football League (UFL) get to test the mettle of the Philippine Under-23 side seeking a spot in the Southeast Asian Games in a charity match Sunday at Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

The match set at 8 p.m. serves as a season-ending showcase for the league which enjoyed another banner season.

“This is the UFL’s way of helping the Under-23 team, whose members are also playing in the league, in their preparation for the SEA Games,” said UFL marketing manager Coco Torre, who was joined in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum by UFL media officer Jing Jamlang.

Among the notable players in the Under-23 Azkals, mentored by Scottish coach Brian Reid, are Mark Hartmann, Joshua Beloya, Amani Aguinaldo, Paolo Bugas, Patrick Deyto, Gerardo Valmayor, and Ronnie Aguisanda.

Established stars like Chieffy Caligdong of Green Archers United and Misagh Bahadoran, and Izzo El Habbib of Global will team up with standouts from UFL double champions Stallion, including Matthew Nierras, Nathaniel Alquiros, Hector Zaghi, Gui Hasegawa, Ruben Doctora, Bervic Italia and Shirmar Felongco.

Also part of the All Star team are Kaya’s Chris Greatwich and Anton del Rosario, GAU’s Tating Pasilan, Loyola Meralco’s Ref Cuaresma, Jake Morallo and Matthew Hartmann, Antonio Albor of Air Force, Emmanuel Mbata of Pasargad, Friso Klok and Baffio Magassa of Nomads, Anto Gonzales of Pachanga and Roel Gener and Nestorio Margarse of Army.

Global’s Jerry Barbaso and Val Kama were also handpicked by Stallion coach Ernie Nierras who will handle the UFL All Stars.

“This is a very experienced and strong team so the Under 23 Azkals will surely have a tough test ahead of them,” said Jamlang in the same forum presented by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation and Shakey’s. “This is going to be a very competitive match.”

Tickets for the match are priced at P100 for bleacher and P150 for grandstand tickets. It will be available at Bootcamp starting Thursday and at the Emperador Stadium gate on gameday.

Proceeds of the match will go to the expenses for the preparations of the Under-23 team, Torre said.