DAVAO City – WVRAA Blue Barons are back as secondary boys football champions after beating Central Visayas, 2-1, in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa finals on Friday night at the University of the Philippines Sports Complex here.
Down 1-0 after the first 45 minutes, the Blue Barons leveled the count early in the second half following a header by Ilonggo Jaime Rosquillo from a corner kick by a teammate.
Negrense Jens Moreno then swung the lead to the Barotac Nuevo National Comprehensive High School-represented WVRAA with another hit midway in the second half.
The victory was sweet for the Blue Barons as it was their first time to hoist a Palarong Pambansa football title since 2015, when the region was represented by San Carlos City footballers.
Rosquillo, a former national U-15 football team member, was later adjudged as the MVP and best defender, Anthony Bedia was hailed as the best goalkeeper, Luis Clauor as best midfielder and Lorent John Jayaon as best striker.
“This is a huge victory for WVRAA since our last championship was in 2015 pa,” said Edwin Caro Laru-an, Iloilo province football director. “Pero, as an Iloilo representative, our last Palarong Pambansa secondary title was 10 years ago.”
Meanwhile, the Blue Barons was unable to defend their championship in the elementary boys category after bowing to the Central Visayas in the gold medal match on early Friday./PN
