Davao, Negros duel for U-22 title

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Davao sustained its fiery form to overpower Misamis Occidental, 5-2, Friday and arrange a title duel with host Negros Occidental in the PFF Smart Under-22 Amateur Football Championship at Panaad Stadium here.

Striker Warren Ravanes fired four goals while James Enegente accounted for the other goal as the Davaoeños followed up their 10-0 conquest of Camarines Norte with another awesome display of firepower.

“He (Ravanes) was very motivated and wanted to prove something maybe because he was rested in the quarterfinals,” said Davao coach Ramonito Carreon. “What’s important is we got the win and a chance of winning the title.”

Davao will face Negros for the title at 3 p.m. today. The Negrenses earlier clinched the first finals seat with a narrow 1-0 victory over Cavite last Friday.

“It’s going to be tough (against Negros),” said Carreon. “They have big and strong players and they will have the crowd behind them. But we also have a system that we trust and we hope it will work in the finals.”

Using quick combination plays at midfield, the Davaoeños broke down the Misamis backline with ease in the second half where they poured three goals.

The 19-year-old Ravanes came out strong after he was rested last Wednesday, opening the scoring six minutes into the match.

Paul Salahit, who sparked the strong finish in Misamis’ 4-0 win over Cordillera, equalized with a cool finish in the 25th minute.

Conceding the equalizer galvanized the Davao side which scored four unanswered goals with Ravanes, a standout from Rizal Memorial Colleges, getting his hat trick in the 55th minute after a series of quick passes found him unmarked inside the box.

Davao snuffed out any hopes of a Misamis comeback with Enegente scoring off a goalkeeper’s lapse  in the 70th minute, before Ravanes made it 5-1 with a composed finish.

If there was any consolation for Misamis, it was the fact that the goal of the day belonged to Reyl Arnesto, who dribbled past two defenders from the half-line, faked the goalkeeper before firing emphatically into an empty net in stoppage time.