Two in a row for Vivid Blue

A Vivid Blue player, second left, steps into the play to gain possession during their game against MP United Football Club in the Pacific Ocean Cup XI last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Centre in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

Vivid Blue made it two in a row after topping the Pacific Ocean Cup XI held last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Centre in Koblerville.

The visiting Japanese football club, which ruled the Pacific Ocean Cup X it hosted in September last year, had a repeat following a 2-1 victory in the finals over TanHoldings Football Club. Hosts MP United FC A and B were the two other teams that joined the biannual competition.

Renjyu Shima and Tsubasa Yamada scored the goals for Vivid Blue in the championship game, while TanHoldings’ drew its lone goal from Anthony Bergancia. Vivid Blue and TanHoldings fought in the finals after emerging as the Top 2 finishers in the round-robin elimination.

The eventual champions earned a 3-0-0 win-draw-loss record in the elimination round, as it first downed TanHoldings, 2-1, and then defeated MP United B, 1-0, and MP United A, 2-1. Against TanHoldings, Yuto Handa knocked in the pair of goals for Vivid Blue and he also drilled the squad’s lone shot in their close win over MP United B. Handa bagged his fourth goal in the tournament after scoring against MP United A and Vivid Blue went on to complete a sweep in the elimination after getting an own goal.

In other matches, TanHoldings also downed MP United A and B, to join Vivid Blue in the finals. Mark Joseph Roque’s goal in the third minute lifted TanHoldings to victory over MP United A, while he single-handed demolished MP United B after firing six goals in their 7-0 rout of the hosts. Bergancia delivered the other goal for TanHoldings, which eventually settled for the runner-up honors after being outgunned by Vivid Blue.

Vivid Blue’s triumph in Pacific Ocean Cup XI was the club’s third in the biannual tournament and first on Saipan soil to match MP United’s record. The Japanese group’s first victory in the competition it alternately hosts with sister club MP United, was in 2014 during the Pacific Ocean Cup III held in Japan. MP United, on the other hand, ruled Pacific Ocean Cup II, IV and, VII. Nagaoka SSS won the inaugural tournament, while other champions were Pure FC (Pacific Ocean Cup VI), Harasato (Pacific Ocean Cup VIII), and TanHoldings FC (Pacific Ocean Cup IX).

Meanwhile, MP United would like to thank major sponsors Tan Siu Lin Foundation and IT&E for their support. The club also acknowledged Chong’s Corp, I Love Saipan, Blue Haus, APEX Remittance, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, RNV Construction, Barney’s Pizza, Saipan International School, Sparks Athletics, Saipan Ice and Water, and Marianas Visiting Nurses for backing up Pacific Ocean Cup XI.

“It’s hard to believe this is our 11th Pacific Ocean Cup. Our relationship with Sachiko Tahara and Vivid Blue Soccer School has been a warm and endearing one and many of our youth players have been able to travel to Japan, meet new friends and experience both international soccer and cultural exchange. We are fortunate to give our U12 and some younger players additional annual opportunities for this friendly soccer competition,” MP United president Vickie Izuka said.

“We applaud Vivid Blue for clinching the championship this season since it is their first POC win on Saipan. They rode off the tail of their first win at their hometown of Numazu too last September. Although our MPU teams did not win the Cup, the matches were all very exciting with some games that could have gone either way. We also thank TanHoldings Football Club for joining our tournament. A big thank you too to NMIFA (Northern Mariana Islands Football Association) for allowing us to play on the beautiful pitch. We are very excited to mention that we are now planning for our visit to Japan this year for POC XII,” the MPU head added.

Vivid Blue players and coaches pose for a photo after their title win over TanHoldings Football Club, 2-1, in the Pacific Ocean Cup XI held last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Centre in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)