Tan Holdings FC leaves mark in Guam tourney

Tan Holding FC’s Mareko Tekopua kicks the ball as a Wings defender stay close to him during a game in the 2014 Marianas U18 Invitational Tournament at the Guam Football Association’s training facility this month. (GFA Photo)

Tan Holdings FC forced draws in its first two matches and suffered only one loss at the hands of eventual champion Wings FC. The visiting squad was composed of Emmanuel Aniana, Dale Ballesteros, Jonassar Dapiawen, James David, Kenneth Domingo, Michael Fidelino, Joshua Galarion, Cosmos Kim, Hobin Lee, Yoshi Mafnas, Marc Mora, Kautong Omengkar, Sean Perez, Reniel and Ryan Relucio, and Mareko Tekopua. Tan Holdings FC technical director Jershwin Angeles coached the team, while club president Ariel Mariano and general secretary Ador Dimaano joined the squad in Guam.

Angeles’ wards first challenged the Islanders, who finished second in Guam Football Association’s U18 league, last June 20. Mafnas and Perez scored one goal each in Tan Holdings FC’s opener to have a standoff against the Islanders.

The following day, the visiting team dueled the fourth-ranked Strykers and Tan Holdings held its ground anew with a 5-5 draw. Perez made a hat-trick in their second game, while Mafnas canned in two goals. Though the same two players led Tan Holdings anew, it was the defense of Galarion that helped Tan Holdings spoil the Strykers, as the goalie saved to penalty kicks.

Galarion and company returned to the artificial turf on the GFA training facility in Harmon the next day to complete their assignment in the invitational tournament and bowed to league champion Wings, 0-6. Tan Holdings’ FC went on to place third in the competition with its 0-2-1 win-draw-loss record. Wings earned a 3-0-0 card, the Islanders finished with a 1-1-1 slate, while the Strykers was last with its 0-1-1 mark.

The champion team and the top individual performers were recognized at the awards ceremony. Galarion was one of the awardees, earning the Golden Glove plum.

“Our keeper, Joshua Galarion received the Golden Glove award. Though he did not have the best record, the committee voted for him for saving two penalty kicks during our game against Strykers FC. We could have lost that game if it were not for Josh’s saves,” Angeles said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

“Sean Perez finished second in the Golden Boot race with his four goals. The Golden Boot awardee had five goals,” he added.

When asked to assess the overall performance of his team’s first off-island tournament, Angeles mentioned the comments he got from Guam football officials.

“We received a lot of positive comments from people from Guam and GFA. Rob de Guzman, GFA youth administrator, texted me after our first game, saying ‘tell your boys they were impressive, hydrate, get some rest, and bring that same attitude tomorrow! Respect,’” Angeles said.

“I read this to the boys and explained to them that what is more important than this tournament is the reputation that THFC will leave in Guam. Coaches and players from other teams commented THFC as a good team, has high spirit, and determined,” the technical director added.

Angeles said his players learned a lot from the tournament and several of them were happy to experience what it is like to play in an artificial turf for the first time.

“The heat and the artificial turf were the biggest challenges for my boys, but overall, the team did well throughout the tournament. This tournament molded the team stronger and closer to each other,” he added.

With its notable performance in the Guam tournament, Tan Holdings FC received another invitation to play in a bigger competition in Saipan’s neighboring island.

“Tan Holdings FC U18 received an invitation to play in bigger tournament in Guam this December. Teams from Philippines will also participate. Joe Cepeda of Islanders also spoke to me that he will also include Tan Holdings FC on his team if the Islanders will go to Philippines for a tournament,” said Angeles, who thanked Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Fiesta Resort Guam, Gatorade, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, and Kuraudia Guam for supporting their trip.