Phl Azkals inspire Ateneo U10 team

MANILA, Philippines - Inspired by the Azkals’ progress in Asian football, Ateneo’s lone entry in the 1st Ceres Football Cup took home the U10 7-a-side championship recently at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College pitch in Talisay, Negros Occidental, and emerged the toast of the tournament that brought together over 3,000 players from about 300 teams in 14 divisions.

Ateneo trounced Dancalan, 7-0, Kickers, 5-0, PPFC, 2-1, and Bago-A, 9-1, in the eliminations then beat Barotac, 3-0, in the quarterfinals, South Cotabato, 2-0, in the semifinals and San Carlos, 1-0, in the finals via a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation. There were 20 squads in the U10 category and Ateneo displayed remarkable endurance in playing seven straight 20-minute matches from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Striker Lorenzo Lucindo booted in the marginal goal while keeper Ashton Africa stopped a pair in the penalty shootout that decided the title. Africa was declared the U10 MVP. Ateneo was one of three Manila squads in the U10 competition with the others mainly from neighboring Visayan cities and a few from Mindanao.

“I’m proud of the boys,” said Ateneo coach John Francis Mabasa. “They were focused and gave it their all. The long hours they sacrificed in practice paid off.” To prepare for the tournament, the Ateneo incoming Grade 5 students gave up their summer break and trained nearly every day. Coach Robert Manlulo, head of the Ateneo football program, was in Talisay to witness the boys’ victory.

“Hard work, trust and unity are the three factors that brought us the championship,” said Mabasa. “I’m so happy that even if they’re still very young, they already understand those values.” Team manager Ginge Salud said teamwork saved the day for the Ateneo kids with each player contributing to sustain their effort from start to finish.

It was an emotional triumph for the boys whose 14-strong lineup featured 10 with overseas playing experience, having represented Ateneo in international competitions in Singapore in 2010 and 2012. “We want our boys to keep growing in the game,” said Salud. “To do that, they will need to keep training, meet new opponents, aim to learn new skills and improve on what they already know and be able to make that significant contribution to the team. As they get older, we realize they will always need to up the level of their game to stay competitive.”

The Ateneo squad was made up of Santino Pastor, Inigo Torres, Lucindo, Africa, Gabriel Ramos, Jose Girang, Gabriel Lariosa, Enzo Gamboa, Julian Ramos, Alfonso Regino, Ezzo Rostrata, Miguel Collo, Luis Madrid and Marco Salud.

Several parents were in the stands to cheer their sons. They were Migui Moreno, Marivi Collo, Nonoy and Star Gamboa, Janno and Sheila Girang, Vanessa Lariosa, Denis and Myca Lucindo, Ian Madrid, Luigi and Mar Pastor, Bot and Michelle Ramos, Janet Ramos, Paolo and Bessie Regino, Mary Ann Rostrata, Walter and Johanna Torres and Ginge Salud.

Gabriel Ramos emerged the team’s top scorer with nine goals. “This is another great achievement for our team,” said Ramos whose football hero is David Beckham. “We worked hard for it. Someday, I hope to be an Azkal like James Younghusband.” Africa, who compiled five goals as a left winger and took over as keeper in the finals penalty shootout, said, “the championship was our goal and we won it by working together as a team and giving it all our hearts and all our best, this means a lot to all of us.” Africa said Pele is his football hero and in the future, he’d be honored to represent the country with the Azkals.

The 1st Ceres Football Cup was held over two days in Talisay and two venues in Bacolod, the Ceres North field and Mandalagan. Ceres Football Club manager and organizing chairman Leo Yanson supervised the proceedings in 14 divisions, mixed boys and girls in U9 and U10, boys in U11, U12, U13, U14, U16 and U18, men in U20, girls in U14 and U18, men’s open, ladies open and 38-and-above. Among the winners were La Salle Bacolod in U20 and men’s open, Bacolod United in 38-and-above, Don Bosco of Victorias City in U12, San Carlos in U14, Don Bosco Cebu in U16 and Team Erco in U18 girls.