MANILA – Western Visayas elementary boys football team clinched the gold medal in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa after a 6-0 beating of Northern Mindanao on Saturday at the University of the Philippines Football Field in Quezon City.
John Lorenz Segocio spearheaded the win with two goals, while Kurt Arnel Deoduco, Drystan Alexandrae Delgado-Torres, Jhon Army Condino, and Nathan Howard Caligdong contributed a goal each for the WV booters.
The Barotac Nuevo Central Elementary School-represented squad were scorching in the opening half. They quickly jumped to a 3-0 lead behind consecutive hits from Deoduco, Delgado-Torres and Condino.
The Ilonggo booters, however, maintained their aggression in the second half with Segocio knocking in back-to-back conversions before Caligdong completed the assault with a close-range hit.
Delgado-Torres was later given the Golden Boot award after scoring a total of seven goals in the Palaro, while Deoduco claimed the Most Valuable Player and goal keeper Finley Nate Bedia was given the Golden Glove award.
Also part of the team were Alfin Bayotas, Vinz Bragancia, Gian Michael Porras, Gem Andrei Dequit, Fritz Azhryl Chavez, Carl Justin Gabayno, James Michael Consular, Neil John Biclar, Ezekiel Joan Surmieda, Bryan Ejar, Nhelro Valderama, and Raiver Fernandez.
Jasper Jan Santos and Ariel Bedic served as coaches for the Ilonggo elementary booters, which dominated all of their opponents since the Regional Meet and Pre-Palarong Pambansa cluster meet./PN
