3 division titles up for grabs in futsal tourney

The 2014 SSS Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament will conclude tomorrow with six teams battling for the three division titles at stake at the TSL Sports Complex.

Real Crispy Pata’s Christopher Aninzo uses his body to protect the ball against an Orange Rangers defender during their game in the boys U15 division of the 2014 SSS Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament last weekend at the TSL Sports Complex. Real Crispy Pata will battle Astig Futsal for the division crown tomorrow. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Team Betde takes on the Lil’ Rascals in the first championship match at 4:30 pm.

Team Betde is slightly favored in the title game, as it held the best record (4-1-1 win-draw-loss) in the double-round robin elimination, while the Lil’ Rascal will enter the winner-take-all finale coming off a loss in their previous game.

Orange Rangers defeated the Lil’ Rascals, 7-5, in the final day of the elimination to barge into the win column the latter dropped four earlier games and drew one. The Lil’ Rascals ended up with a 3-1-2 slate to place second in the team standings. Sisig United (2-1-3) completed the field.

Merrick Toves led Orange Rangers’ upset of the Lil’ Rascal as he scored five goals. Kirt Andon and Daniel Mar Pablo nailed the two other goals for Orange Rangers, while Jerlyn Castillo paced the Lil’ Rascals with her two goals. Taka Borja, Katherine Magat, and Go Sekiguchi tallied one goal apiece for the Lil’ Rascals.

In the second title match of the night—the girls U15 finale between Lady Blues and Matansa at 5:30pm—the former has the edge based on its record in the elimination round.

Lady Blues topped the division with its 5-0-1 record, while Matansa had the second best mark at 4-1-1.

Though Lady Blues had the advantage record-wise, the opposing teams are even head-to-head with Matansa avenging its first round loss to the former earlier this year.

Girly Flowers & Rainbows and Orange Rangers joined the finalists in the girls U15 division and the bottom two squads played in the final elimination round matches last Sunday. Girly Flowers & Rainbows ended the elimination with a rout of Orange Rangers, 11-1. Mark Kay Alferos had a hat-trick in Girly Flowers & Rainbows’ demolition of Orange Rangers, while Chevy Kate Alipio, Chloe Salvosa, and Guinevere Borja added two each, and Renita Fleming and Gillian Villagomez chipped in one apiece.

In the boys U15 division, Astig Futsal won its finals preview against Real Crispy Pata last Sunday, 1-0.

Anthony Fruit scored the lone goal for Astig Futsal, which finished the elimination with a 5-1-0 record. Real Crispy Pata ended up with a 4-2-1 mark. The two finalists had a draw in their first meeting and will settle all scores in the 6:30pm finale tomorrow.

Orange Rangers and Matansa Blazers completed the boys U15 field with the latter winning its last match in the tournament against the former, 16-1.

Evan Belcher went all out in his final game in the tournament, dropping five goals. Chad Shankweiller, Davy Laxa, JC Piring, and Jherico Tiamzon contributed two goals apiece, while Taka Borja had one for Matansa, which wrapped up the elimination round with a 2-0-4 record. Orange Rangers were winless in the division and got its lone goal against Matansa from Jhoey Noble.