Perfect season for NMI U18

The NMI Boys U18 National Team’s Sunjoon Tenorio, left, dribbles in front of an Old B Bank defender during their title game in Division A of the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The NMI Boys U18 National Team capped its undefeated run in the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League with a 5-0 victory against the Old B Bank in the Division A finals last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Sunjoon Tenorio and Skyler Poon teamed up in handing the No. 1 seed Teen Ayuyus the easy title win against No. 3 the Old B Bank. Tenorio drilled a hat trick, while Poon contributed two goals.

Though the Old B Bank gave up five goals in the finale, it took a while for the NMI U18 to find its target. In fact, the eventual champion’s first goal came late in the opening half with Poon finally putting his team on the board in the 42nd minute. The young striker then made it back-to-back, as he scored four minutes later, while the Old B Bank could not cash in on its multiple attacks to fall behind at the break.

When the game resumed, Tenorio picked up where Poon left off and this time the goal came early, as the team captain got his first goal right into the fourth minute of the second half.

A marked man after topping the league in goals scored (14) in the regular season, Tenorio was unstoppable and notched another goal six minutes later to widen the gap, while the Old B Bank still could not end its dry spell. The NMI U18 forward also had the last say in the lopsided win after getting his third goal in the 55th minute.

With the game and the title in the bag, the Teen Ayuyus wisely used the clock after Tenorio’s goal and allowed its bench players to finish off the Old B Bank, which repeatedly tried to make it to the board, but just could not get past NMI U18 defenders.

The Teen Ayuyus were handed the championship trophy after the shutout win, while the Old B Bank also received a trophy. Joining the NMI U18 and the Old B Bank in the Top 3 was TanHoldings Football Club, which eased past Paire Football Club, 7-2, in the consolation game last May 9.

The Old B Bank and NMI U18 dueled for the Division A championship last weekend after downing their separate semis opponents last May 5. The Teen Ayuyus edged the No. 4 TanHoldings FC, 4-2, while the Old B Bank stunned No. 2 Paire, 4-1.

The NMI U18 was seeded first in the playoffs after earning a perfect 6-0-0 win-draw-loss record, while Paire was ranked second with its 5-0-1 card. The Old B Bank and TanHoldings finished the round-robin regular season with identical 3-0-3 marks, but the former won the tiebreak for No. 3 seed, winning their head-to-head (4-1).

Players and coaches of the NMI Boys U18 National Team pose with their championship trophy after beating the Old B Bank, 5-0, in the Division A title game in the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)