BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo – The Barotac Nuevo Selection clinched the crown in the Mayor BP Biron Men’s Open Football Invitational after a 1-0 beating of Panay U-19 Football Team in the finals on Monday at the Barotac Nuevo Football Field.
Jovin Bedic was the difference maker for the Marjo Allado-mentored Barotac Nuevo Selection in the four-day tournament that served as a side event to Barotac Nuevo’s town fiesta.
The Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo mainstay and former Philippine Azkals call-up broke the scoreless deadlock in the second half with a powerful hit against the defense of Panay U-19.
Three members of the Barotac Nuevo Selection were later given individual citations in Kaya-Iloilo’s Ruben Doctora as the Most Valuable Player, Abrielle Belgira as Best Defender and Carl Franz Mahinay as Best Midfielder.
Two players from the Ian Araneta-coached Panay U-19 Football Team were also recognized with Cyron Aprosta being awarded as Best Goal Keeper and Alex Doctora as Best Striker. The team was also given the fair play award.
Philippine Army Football Club, on the other hand, emerged as the second runner up, while the Philippine Air Force’s football team finished as third runner up.
With only four teams participating, the tournament format was single-round robin with the top-two squads (Barotac Nuevo and Panay U-19) facing in the championship round while the third and fourth placer finished as 2nd and 3rd runner ups.
Aside from the men’s tournament, Barotac Nuevo Mayor Bryant Paul Biron also conducted a Football (Local) Festival 2002 at the same venue, where there were four age categories.
JCFC-A clinched the championship in the 5-to-6 age category after defeating Tubungan in the finals. PBSDF and JCFC-B ended as the second and third runner up squads.
Agcuwayan Calsada, meanwhile, bagged the 7-to-8 age group championship with Tamasak Football Club, JCFC-B and PBSDF finishing with runner up honors, respectively.
Tamasak, on the other hand, ruled the 9-10 category with PBSDF, So-ol and Tubungan as runner ups, while JCFC-A bagged the 11-12 category with runners-up Agcuwayan Calsada, JCFC-B and Tamasak-A./PN
