Tan Holdings claims boys U14 title

Two Tan Holdings FC players stay close on defense against a Shirley’s FC member during their boys U14 game in the NMIFA youth league last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tan Holdings Football Club won the boys U14 championship in the 2016 NMIFA Youth Spring League after routing Shirley’s FC, 9-1, in the final week of competition in the division last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field.

Tan Holdings finished the two-round robin regular season with an 8-0-2 win-draw, placing ahead of MP United (7-0-3), Kanoa (7-0-3), Paire (4-0-6), Matansa (4-0-6), and Shirley’s (0-0-10). The division champion is composed of Aloy Zeus Angeles, Thaiphi Austria, Steven Balakrishna, Kirro Batino, Angelo Bergancia, Ichiro and Taka Borja, Ekeziel and John Guiller Canape, John Paul Cruz, John Mark Esalan, Alan Matutino, Joshua Mendez, Terence Montenegro, Floyd Muna, John Michael Rojas, and Joshua Waldo and is coached by Ryan Relucio.

Esalan led Tan Holdings’ title-clinching win as he knocked in five goals. John Guiller Canape chipped in two, while Ichiro Borja and Waldo contributed one each. Gabriel Arkoh Jr. made the lone goal for the winless Shirley’s.

Esalan scored the first goal for Tan Holdings, while Canape also hit the board in the first half. Borja then kicked off Tan Holding’s offense in the second frame, while Esalan got two straight goals midway in that period before Waldo managed to join the spree. Esalan had another back-to-back conversion late in the game, while Canape closed out for Tan Holdings. Shirley’s only goal in the lopsided match was recorded in the second half.

With Tan Holdings collecting nine goals in its last game, the newly crowned division champion brought its total to 52, the second most scored in the boys U14 contest this season. Tan Holdings allowed the least goals (20).

MP United had the most goals in 10 games with 57, but it failed to finish the season on a winning note as Kanoa beat the former, 2-1, in the final match last week.

Kirt Andon lifted Kanoa to the win after registering both goals, while Ye Seong Cho tallied the lone goal for MP United. Cho made it to the board first with his shot in the 45th to give MP United a shaky lead. Nine minutes later Andon equalized for Kanoa, which eventually grabbed the win when Andon hit his target anew in the 62nd.

With Kanoa tallying two more goals, its total reached 42 and the team gave up the second least goals (24). MP United allowed 27.

Meanwhile, Matansa matched Paire’s record after posting a 5-3 win in the second game last Saturday.

Justin Charles Achas starred in Matansa’s final push after earning four goals. Matansa drew the other goal from Iverson Santos, who lit up the board five minutes after Achas got his first in the 14th.

Robbie Schorr, Raffy Lee, and Kaden Church logged one goal apiece for Paire, which still had more goals than Matansa, 46-35.