M-League finals: Teammates turn into foes

TanHoldings, right, and Okadaya players chase the ball during the second half of their semis game in the Division A of the M-League last Sunday at the Hopwood Middle School Field. TanHoldings won, 9-0, and will dispute the division title against the Teen Ayuyus tomorrow. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The TanHoldings Football Club and Teen Ayuyus’ title match tomorrow will be interesting to watch as teammates turned into foes to battle for bragging rights in the Division A of the M-League.

Game time is at 2:30pm at the Hopwood Middle School Field.

The Teen Ayuyus will be bannered by Sunjoon Tenorio, Dai Podziewski, Chris Aninzo, Anthony Fruit, Louie Calayag, Thaiphi Austria, and John Michael Rojas. These players are members of the CNMI Boys U18 National Team and just came from a five-day training camp in Hong Kong. J.J. Takano will be calling the shots for the Teen Ayuyus in absence of head coach Michiteru Mita, who is off-island.

Tenorio and company will be going up against the TanHoldings’ side that also has several members of the U18 national squad, which saw action in training matches in Hong Kong. Hark Galarion, James Ermitanio, Ryan Relucio, Eun Syu Hahn, and Joshua De Leon will be pitted against their Teen Ayuyus teammates. Jersh Angeles, who with Takano made up the Teen Ayuyus’ coaching staff, is TanHoldings’ team captain.

“The opposing teams have lots of players who are familiar with each other’s game so it will be pretty interesting how the match will turn out, especially we will be playing for the championship,” Takano said in an interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday.

“This will be a test of character for our boys—both from the Teen Ayuyus and TanHoldings sides. We will play using our system and make the adjustments as the game progresses. Our players have been playing high level soccer and we hope to keep it that way and be mentally and physical ready,” Takano added.

Takano also reminded the Teen Ayuyus not only to focus their defense against their teammates playing for TanHoldings, but also to the adult players of the latter.

“They have very good adult players and that’s their advantage, so we have to be consistent with our defense and cover every player and position,” Takano said.

As for TanHoldings, Angeles hopes his teammates will capitalize on every possession.

“We have to be very aggressive and not waste those opportunities to score. If we lose the ball, we have to try very hard to get it back and attack. On defense, everyone must do their share, provide help if needed,” said Angeles, who is also counting on the team’s chemistry to score a repeat against the Teen Ayuyus and take this season’s championship.

TanHoldings and the Teen Ayuyus met only once before the finals with the former earning a 2-0 victory in their elimination round game.