TanHoldings-1 rules U13 division

TanHoldings-1’ Harry Domulot, left, scans the pitch before making his move, while MP United’s Leo Takahashi stays close on defense during the second half of their co-ed U13 division game in the 2018 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the Hopwood Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

TanHoldings Football Club-1 made sure there won’t be a playoff for the co-ed U13 division championship, as it downed MP United FC, 3-1, in a deciding game in the 2018 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the Hopwood Middle School Field.

TanHoldings-1 entered last weekend’s match with a 7-1-1 win-draw-loss record, while MP United and Kanoa-2 were close behind, holding similar 6-1-2 marks, and pressed to prevail in their respective games to force a three-way tie for the top spot.

The complicated deadlock, however, did not happen, as TanHoldings-1, which needed only a draw to prevent the standoff, willed itself to a victory over MP United. Angelo Pulido, Mark Joseph Roque, and Ariel Narvaez delivered the goals for the newly-crowned champion with the former drawing first blood for TanHoldings-1 and tying the game in the 22nd minute. Ten minutes earlier, MP United made it to the board first, thanks to Andrew Chung’s shot.

The match remained tied in the first half before Roque broke loose from his defender and knocked in a right cross in the 37th minute to put TanHoldings-1 in front. Narvaez then drilled the insurance for the eventual champion after he found the back of the net three minutes before the 60-minute game wrapped up.

With the victory, TanHoldings-1 finished the double-round robin competition with an 8-1-1 mark, while MP United, after the loss, dropped to a 6-1-3 slate, bringing the team down to third place behind Kanoa-1 (7-1-2).

TanHoldings-1’s three goals in the final game brought the group’s total this season to 63—the most scored by any team in the entire league—including the boys U15 and U18 and girls U16 divisions. MP United finished the competition with 55 goals.

Meanwhile, Kanoa-1 jumped to second place without breaking a sweat in its last game, as it won via forfeiture against Matansa. Kanoa-1 was automatically handed a 3-0 victory, upping the team’s goal total to 55. It yielded the least goals in the division with 26.

In other results in the final weekend of the league, TanHoldings-2 managed to avoid a shutout this season, as it won over Kanoa-2, 6-3.

Monico Claridades towed TanHoldings-2 to its only victory this season after scoring four goals. He completed a hat trick right after the first half after hitting his target in succession with his first shot rolling in at the ninth minute. Claridades’ two other goals in the first half were recorded in the 15th and 25th minute, while he also closed out for TanHoldings-2 after logging his fourth goal in the 43rd. TanHoldings-2’s two other goals came from Mary Joy Aniana and Eros Estolas in the 31st and 35th minute, respectively.

Kanoa-2 got a pair of goals from Markus Pelisamen and one from Paul Lizama. Kanoa 2 finished the season with a 2-1-7 record.