Tekkers rules U12 futsal tourney

Tekkers players and coaches pose for a group photo after beating Betde in the co-ed U12 division finals of the Saipan Soccer School futsal tournament yesterday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tekkers clinched the co-ed U12 division championship in the Saipan Soccer School’s 2015 Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament after defeating Betde, 4-1, in yesterday’s finals at the TSL Sports Complex.

Kaden Church, Rintaro Miyawaki, and Rinto Takahashi scored the goals for Tekkers in the finale between the Top 2 finishers in the round-robin elimination. Church knocked in a pair of goals, while Miyawaki and Takahashi chipped in one apiece.

Church broke the ice for Tekkers midway in the first 20 minutes of play, while Takahashi also scored in the opening half. Tekkers’ second goal came from Miyawaki in the second half off a cross pass from Church. Miyawaki attacked and kicked the ball in against the defense of Betde goalie Oliver Fajardo down to the last five minutes of the match. Church closed out for the Tekkers, as he slipped past two Betde defenders in the middle and Fajardo was a step slower from saving the ball from rolling down to the right corner post.

After Church’s second goal, Betde had a couple of chances to make it to the board in the second half, but Tekkers players stood their ground on defense, limiting their foe to only one goal. Betde registered its lone goal in the first half, courtesy of Taka Borja.

Tekkers’ much quicker defenders prevented Borja and his Betde teammates Floyd Muna and Kohtaro Goto from adding more goals to their team’s total in the second half, while Tekkers goalkeeper Richard Steele also made several saves to frustrate their opponents. Completing Tekkers’ winning roster were Maaya Sato, Blake Mister, Jon VIllagomez, and Julianne Hall. The champion squad was composed of MP United and Paire FC players and had MPU’s Sunjoon Tenorio and Chris Aninzo as coaches.

Betde was bannered by Tan Holdings FC players with John Ezekiel Canape, Anthony Bergancia, Raina Avelino, Salvatorre Gotti Jr., and Angelo Pulido completing the squad.

Betde and Tekkers arranged their title showdown by occupying the Top 2 spots in the team standings in the elimination round. Actually, they had similar 2-0-1 win-draw-loss records, but Betde ended up at first place with its more goals, 9-5.

Kanoa Ali’i and the Blue Devils were the two other teams entered in the division with the former earning a 1-1-1 mark against the latter’s 0-1-2. They dueled in the consolation game yesterday with the Blue Devils pulling off an upset against Kanoa, 3-0.

Reginald Pascual lifted the Blue Devils to the third place finish after recording two goals, while Aundre Camacho contributed one.

Meanwhile, Fake Madrid and Astig Futsal collided in the co-ed U15 finals yesterday and results of the title match will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.