8 teams zero in on finals berth

Posted on Jan 09 2015

A Lady Blues defender, right, tries to keep up with a Girly Flowers & Rainbows during their girls U15 game in the 2014 SSS Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The finals cast in the three divisions of the 2014 SSS Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament is shaping up heading into the last three days of elimination games at the TSL Sports Complex.

In the co-ed U12 age group, the Lil Rascals and Team Betde are the frontrunners in the race for the two finals seats with the former leading the four-team field with their 3-1-0 win-draw-loss record. Team Betde is ranked second with its 3-0-1 slate, while Sisig United (1-0-3) and Orange Rangers (0-1-3) complete standings. The Top 2 finishers in the group after the double-round robin elimination will duke it out for the division title on Jan. 17.

The Lil Rascal and Team Betde collide today in the second game at 6pm in what could be a finals preview, while in the first match at 5pm, Sisig United duels Orange Rangers. The Lil Rascals prevailed in their first meeting with Team Betde, pulling off a 6-4 victory in their Dec. 28 game.

In the third tiff at 7pm, it will be Lady Blues versus Matansa Sparks for the girls U15 pairing. Lady Blues is on top of the leaderboard with its 4-0-0 record and is likely to notch the first finals berth in the division. Matansa is in second place with its 2-1-1 mark and needs to win one of its last two matches to prevent Girly Flowers & Rainbows (1-1-2) from spoiling the former’s finals date with Lady Blues. Orange Rangers (0-0-4) complete the division and will try to barge into the win column this Saturday when they take on the Lady Blues at 5:30pm. Matansa and Girly Flowers & Rainbows square off in the third match this Saturday at 6:30pm.

In the boys U15 division, co-leaders Real Crispy Pata and Astig Futsal are headed for a title showdown. The pacesetters hold similar 3-1-0 records to zero in on the two finals slots. Matansa Blazers (1-0-3) and Orange Rangers (0-0-3) are the two other teams entered in the boys U15 division.

Astig Futsal will go for the solo division lead tonight when it faces Matansa Blazers at 8pm, while Crispy Pata will challenge Orange Rangers tomorrow in the last game at 7:30pm.

The two remaining boys U15 matches will be played this Sunday with Astig Futsal battling Real Crispy Pata in a finals peek at 6:30pm and Matansa Blazers fighting Orange Rangers at 7:30pm. In the co-ed U12, it will be Orange Rangers versus Lil Rascals at 4:30pm, while in the second match at 5:30pm, Girly Flowers & Rainbows will collide against Orange Rangers.

Once the elimination round games are completed, the league will take a five-day break before playing the three division finals. The co-ed U12 title game is set for next Saturday at 4:30pm, while the girls and boys U15 finale matches are scheduled for 5:30pm and 6:30pm, respectively.

Roselyn Monroyo | Reporter

Roselyn Monroyo is the sports reporter of Saipan Tribune. She has been covering sports competitions for more than two decades. She is a basketball fan and learned to write baseball and football stories when she came to Saipan in 2005.

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