MANILA – Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) pulled off a 1-0 escape over the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) to rule the PFF U-19 Boys National Football Championship on Saturday at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Kyle Francis Alipo-on played the heroes role for NOFA as he took advantage of NCRFA’s defensive miscue to drain the go ahead goal at 117th minute mark.
“Sobra kalipay. Waay ako mag-expect nga mapasok ang goal ko,” Alipo-on said.”Last goal(attempt) na namin ‘yun, kapag hindi mapasok, mas malaki ang pressure sa amin.”
Added the Himamaylan, Negros Occidental booter: “Sobra sobra kag damo ang budlay namon and sobra sobra ang aming sakripisyo para sa tournament na ito.”
Three NOFA players were also cited with individual awards in Rohderick Rodriguez as Most Valuable Player, John Marcellana as Best Goal Keeper and Francis Madamecila as Best Midfielder.
Two members of the NCRFA crew, on the other hand, were also recognized in John Jalique as the Top Goal Scorer and Haren de Gracia as Best Defender.
NOFA advanced to the championship match after pulling off a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Football Association (RFA).
The NCRFA entered the gold medal game by hacking out a 1-0 triumph over Iloilo Football Association (Iloilo FA) in the other semifinals game last Thursday.
The Iloilo FA, meanwhile, salvaged a second runner-up finish in the competition after a 1-0 beating of SOCCSKSARGEN RFA in the battle-for-third place encounter.
A header by Central Philippine University standout Selwyn Nickos Mamon at the second minute mark was all the Ilonggos needed to finish the competition on a winning note./PN
