Tan Holdings FC bags co-ed U12 title

Players, officials, and coaches of Tan Holdings FC’s U12 team pose for a photo during their victory party yesterday in Koblerville. The club bagged the U12 division title of the 2014 NMIFA Fall Youth League after beating Paire FC, 2-1, last Saturday at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tan Holdings FC, which notched the boys U15 division crown early this month, added the co-ed U2 division championship to its collection as the win over Paire helped the team secure the No. 1 spot in the three-round robin tournament. Tan Holdings FC finished the competition with a 6-2-1 win-draw-loss record, narrowly beating MP United FC, which ended its campaign in the four-team league with a 6-1-2 slate. With its better record, Tan Holdings collected 20 points in the tournament, while MP United got 19, as it also won its final game against Kanoa FC last weekend, 4-2.

“It was a tough season with MP United and Paire giving us tough time every game. Fortunately, our players remained focus in the last two crucial games so we were able to pull this one,” said Tan Holdings coach Mico Moran, who was assisted by Bogs Tanghal.

Before the victory against Paire, Moran’s wards edged MP United, 2-1, to grab the top spot. However, Tan Holdings was just ahead by two points against MP United, 16-14, and needed the win over Paire to keep the upper hand and clinch the division crown.

“We told our players that we will not settle for anything but a win and they responded to the challenge despite trailing early in the important match versus Paire,” Moran said.

Paire’s Raffi Lee scored under the 10 minute mark of the first half to put Paire on top, but Tan Holdings players remained persistent with their offense and their determination was rewarded as a few minutes later Thaipi Austria hit the equalizer.

“After Paire scored we just told our players to keep attacking. We had at least seven shots that could not just go in after Paire scored, so we knew in time the goals will come because the boys were very aggressive,” Tanghal said.

Austria got another goal before the first half ended to give Tan Holdings the lead and he capped his season-long brilliance with his third goal, which he made by passing several Paire defenders and then goalie Steven Kileleman.

Joining Austria on the champion team are Angelo Bergancia, Emalyn Aniana, Floyd Muna, Franz Demaros, John Ezikel and John Guiller Canape, Kyla Tuazon, John Michael Rojas, Luis Claridades, Matt Moran, and Nicolas Tkel.

Austria and company gained the division-clinching win versus Paire while MP United was also playing on the other pitch against Kanoa.

“There was some sort of pressure with us and MP United playing at the same time. However, we told our players to keep their focus on our game and do not worry about what’s happening on the other pitch. Sometimes they got distracted by the whistles, but still they managed to focus on the task at hand,” said Moran, who attributed the team’s success this season to the players’ strong fundamentals and long years of playing.

“We’ve been training these kids since they were in the U6 age group and through the years they’ve develop their skills. This (championship) is the fruit of their hard work and dedication in the past five or six years,” Moran added.

The title win this season is just perfect, as the team needs some confidence booster when it heads to Guam this weekend for its first off-island tournament. The newly crowned division champion will leave Saipan this Friday and play against four squads in Guam.