Teen Ayuyus sweep opener

Rintaro Miyawaki, first row fourth left, and Mark Esalan, first row right, join other starters for the CNMI for a group photo before their game against Luen Thai Soccer School yesterday in the Inaugural Tuloy XO Cup at the Tuloy XO Field in Alabang, Philippines. Miyawaki and Esalan scored two goals apiece in the CNMI’s 4-1 win over LSS. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI Boys U16 National Team won its pair of games in the opening of the Inaugural Tuloy XO Cup yesterday at the Tuloy XO Field in Alabang, Philippines.

The Teen Ayuyus first dueled Luen Thai Soccer School and cruised to a 4-1 victory in their morning match at Tuloy’s first artificial turf. The CNMI crew then was pitted against the host in its second game and notched another easy win, 5-1, to keep a perfect record in the six-team field.

Rintaro Miyawaki and Mark Esalan scored two goals each in the Teen Ayuyus’ victory over LSS. Details of the CNMI’s win against Tuloy were unavailable at press time and will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Friday edition along with the results of the three other matches in the opening day. Tuloy, before facing the CNMI, challenged Makati Football Club in the first match, while LSS was also scheduled to square off against MFC in the final game of the day. Don Bosco Technical College Cebu and Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong were also set to play yesterday.

The two wins in yesterday’s opening day put the Teen Ayuyus in a good position to advance to the championship game. The Top 2 teams after the round-robin play will dispute the title in the Tuloy XO Cup this Sunday.

Today, the CNMI will try to keep its unbeaten record when it takes on Makati Football Club. Then tomorrow, the Teen Ayuyus will have their last two matches in the elimination round. They will first meet Don Bosco Cebu in the 8am match and then will collide against Chelsea Hong Kong in the 2pm game.

Besides Miyawaki and Esalan, 17 other players are suiting up for the Teen Ayuyus. The list includes Razeff Altamirano, Taka Borja, Brian Lubao, Jonathan Mindanao, Jason Quimzon, Rinto Takahashi, Merrick Toves Kirt Andon, Thaiphi Austria, Sebastien Manabat, Joshua Mendez, John Michael Rojas, Joshua Waldo, Kaden Church, John Guiller Canape, and Richard Waldo Jr. Michiteru Mita calls the shot for the CNMI crew and is joined on the coaching staff by goalkeeper coach Kwok Kei Poon and assistant Jershwin Angeles. Raymond Zapanta is the team manager.

Meanwhile, Mita, who went straight to Manila for the Tuloy XO Cup after guiding the CNMI U15 team to the East Asian Football Federation U15 Boys Tournament, lauded the Teen Ayuyus for their performance in China.

“Coach Mita believes that the boys did a great job during the span of the tournament. The players did their best and never failed to show their pride for the flag they carried on their chest. The boys recognize that we are small and for now, we are still underdogs. But the experience gave them an understanding of what they need to give in order to play against the giants,” team manager Mikky Vargas said.

“He is extremely proud of the boys because they left such a lasting impression on the big countries of East Asia.”