Forza MPU, Hunger Goals win U12 3v3 tourney

Forza MPU and Hunger Goals clinched the U12 division titles in the 2015 NMIFA 3v3 Grassroots Football Day Tournament held last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

A Hunger Goals player kicks the ball, while an MP United 2 defender looks on during their Group B U12 division title in the 2015 NMIFA 3v3 Grassroots Football Day Tournament last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Forza MPU took the U12 crown in Group A after pulling off a come-from-behind 4-3 victory against Kanoa Rangers 1 in the finals. Kanoa led, 2-0, midway in the first half off Ian Maniago’s pair of goals before Rintaro Miyawaki anchored Forza MPU’s fight-back to steal the win. Miyawaki had a hat-trick in the finals, while Jeremiah Diaz nailed the other goal for Forza MPU. Jaydee Jose tallied the other goal for Kanoa Rangers 1.

Joining Diaz and Miyawaki on the champion team are Howard Grafton Jr., Daniele Colombo, Rinto Takahashi, Jon Villagomez, and Erie Kate Ortega. Kennedy Izuka and Jason Kim are the squad’s coaches.

Forza MPU and Kanoa Rangers 1 made it to the finals after recording contrasting wins in the semis. Forza MPU shut down Tan Holdings Chrome, 2-0, while Kanoa Rangers 1 nosed out Paire No.1s, 6-7, in the other Final Four pairing.

The four semifinalists were determined via rankings after each squad played four matches. Tan Holdings Chrome topped the seven-team field with its perfect 4-0-0 win-draw-loss record, while Kanoa Rangers 1 came in at second with its 3-0-1 slate. Forza MPU was the last to gain a semis seat as it logged a 2-0-2 mark and earned 7 points, one point behind the third-ranked Paire No.1s, which posted a 2-1-1 card.

Meanwhile, in Group B Hunger Goals, which is a team of Shirley’s FC players, foiled a MP United sweep in the U12 division after prevailing against MPU 1 in the finals, 2-0.

William Celeste and Katrina Costales scored one goal apiece in the victory. Kristopher Laquian, Joeref Dalawampu, Rian Jewel Cadag, Gabriel Arkoh, and Adriana Tamparong are the other members of the winnings squad, while Fradel Sedillo is the coach.

Hunger Goals finished second in the elimination round with its 3-0-1 record to make it to the semis. Actually, Hunger Goals tied MPU 1 and 2 for first place with their identical marks, but the latter took the top seeding after winning the tiebreak. MP United 2 dropped to third, while Kanoa with its 1-0-3 slate completed the Top 4. Paire missed the semis with its 0-0-4 record.

In the semifinals, MP United 2 secured the first finals berth after downing Kanoa, 4-2, while Hunger Goals averted an all-MPU title showdown after slipping past MP United 1, 2-1.

Meanwhile, results in the U8 and U10 divisions of the annual tournament will be reported on Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.