MP United 1 rules Pacific Ocean Cup 4

An MP United FC 1 player tries to keep the ball away from a Vivid Blue defender during their championship game in the Pacific Ocean Cup 4 last Sunday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

MP United Football Club 1 hoisted the Pacific Ocean Cup 4 after blanking the visiting Vivid Blu FC, 3-0, in the winner-take-all finale last Sunday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field.

Pacific Ocean Cup 3 MVP Sun Joon Tenorio scored all three goals in the championship match to help MP United bounce back from a runner-up finish in the third leg of the goodwill tournament held in Japan two weeks ago. Tenorio made back-to-back goals in a span of two minutes, drilling his first in the fourth minute and the second in the sixth before completing the hat-trick in the 12th minute.

Joining Tenorio on the champion squad are Steven Goodwin, Maaya Sato, Daniele Colombo, Goen Ho Lee, Jon and Gillian Villagomez, Edwin Kim, Francesca Bucalig, Eun Syu Hahn, Christian Bravo, Seung Mock You, and Maury Zon Tybaco. James McAllister and Chris Park are the coach and assistant coach, respectively.

MP United 1 advanced to the finals after posting a 3-1-0 win-draw-loss record in the round-robin elimination. It started its bid in the one-day event with a scoreless draw against sister team MP United 2 and then made it to the win column via a 1-0 victory over Vivid Blue. Tenorio drained the lone goal in the game and had another one in their 5-1 trouncing of Shirley’s FC. Jon Villagomez led MP United 1’s win over Shirley’s FC, as he logged a pair of goals, while Edwin Kim and Colombo chipped in one apiece.

The eventual champion went on to sweep their last three games after shutting down Tinian Premier FC, 4-0. Tenorio canned all four goals in the victory to hand MP United FC 1 the outright and first finals berth.

Vivid Blue, which finished the elimination with a 3-1 win-loss record, placed second and had to battle third finisher MP United FC 2 (2-1-1) for the second and last finals ticket. In the make-or-break semis, Vivid Blue escaped with a 1-0 win to foil an all-MP United finale. Fuuta Kubota scored the lone goal in the rubber match, hitting his target in the seventh minute.

Eight other players suited up for Vivid Blue in the weekend tournament. Joining Kubota on the team are Ayato Handa, Wataru Horike, Hizuki Katayama, Yohei Shoji, Shimon Ohkawa, Hokuto Tsujita, Daiya Satchi, and Junki Tsumeda. Sachiko Tahara and Kosuke Yakubo are the coaches.

Meanwhile, Tenorio was handed the Golden Boot award at the conclusion of the tournament for recording nine goals, while Goodwin took the Golden Glove plum for giving up only one goal in four games. Tenorio was also adjudged team MVP, along with MP United 2’s Matthew Ong, Vivid Blue’s Ohkawa, Shirley’s Taka Borja, and Tinian’s Renuka Shrestha.

“We thank all the participating teams, especially Vivid Blue for visiting us again. Without their dedication and friendship, we would not have been able to host this event. We also want to thank all of our club officers, parents, families, and supporters, and our wonderful sponsors, including NMIFA and IT&E. A very big thanks to Shirley’s Coffee Shop too for providing food and drinks/snacks for the Cup,” MP United FC president Vickie Izuka said.

The club also extended its appreciation to other supporters of the tournament and MP United’s participation to the Pacific Ocean Cup 3: I Love Saipan, Auntie Mags, Saipan Bowling Center, Hyatt Regency, Kingfisher Golf, Triple J, Topnotch, The Shack, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Konflikt Sporting, Sean & Anne Photography, Brothers Oriental Clinic, IP&E, and Koblerville Elementary School.