Villagomez leads Golden Boot race

MP United’s Gillian Villagomez, right, seen here battling the possession against Shirley’s FC’s Katrina Costales, left, leads the Golden Boot race in the U15 division of NMIFA spring league. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

MP United’s Gillian Villagomez is leading the Golden Boot race in the girls U15 division of the 2016 NMIFA Youth Spring League.

In six games, the many-time CNMI youth team member recorded 15 goals and is the only player in the division so far to hit double figures. She had his most goals (five) in their 14-1 rout of Paire last Feb. 20. Villagomez then got four apiece in their 9-0 shutout versus Tan Holdings on last Feb. 27 and in the 4-5 loss to Shirley’s last March 19 before the league took a break in observance of the Holy Week. The MP United forward tallied one goal each in their 2-3 defeat at the hands of Shirley’s on Feb. 13 and 2-5 loss to Kanoa last March 5.

Villagomez is ahead of Kanoa’s Paulyn Grace Joyce, who earned nine, while the former’s teammate Maaya Sato and Princess Alcantara, also of Kanoa, are tied for third with eight each. Rounding out the Top 10 are Matansa’s Lyka Sally (six), MP United’s Rei Sekiguchi (five), Kanoa’s Toremy Diaz (five), Matansa’s Sunny Woo (five), and Kanoa’s Kristelle Itaas (four) and Britany Wally (four).

In the boys U17 division, Matansa’s Jun Sik Kim collected nine to lead teammate Evan Belcher (4), MP United’s Sunjoon Tenorio (three), Tan Holdings’ Alan Hinson (three), Matansa’s Joshua De Leon (three), MP United’s Keeanu Diaz (three) and Hyun Jun Chung (three), and Matansa’s Jamesbonie Valdez (two).

In the boys U14 division, Paire’s Kaden Church and Matansa’s Justin Achas are in a close race with the former having 13 against the latter’s 10. MP United’s Rintaro Miyawaki and Rei Sekiguchi, Tan Holdings’ Mark Esalan, and Kanoa’s Ian Karl Maniago are still in contention with nine each. Tan Holdings’ Taka Borja (seven), MP United’s Oliver Lee (seven), Matansa’s Iverson Santos (6), Kanoa’s Sebastien Manabat (six), and MP United’s Ye Seong Cho (six) complete the Top 10.

In the boys U12 division, Miyawaki is likely to run away with the Golden Boot award with his 20 in six games. He scored in all of MP United’s matches, posting his most (six) in their 11-1 demolition of Paire in the season-opening game last Feb. 13.

Three more MP United players are ranked second to fourth with Dylan Kim getting eight, Rohan Basnet having seven, and Andrew Chung logging 6. Tan Holdings’ Anthony Bergancia also has six goals to make it to the Top 5, while his teammate Angelo Pulido and Kanoa’s Merrick Toves and Brian Lubao have five apiece.

In the U12 team standings, MPU has the most goals so far with 49 and also holds the best record at 5-0-1 (win-draw-loss). Kanoa owns a 4-0-2 mark, while Tan Holdings and Paire have 2-0-4 and 1-0-5 slates, respectively.

In the boys U14, MP United is ahead, too both in the team standings (5-0-1) and goals scored (37), while Kanoa is on top of the girls U15 with its 4-0-1 card and 39 goals. Matansa enjoys the top view in the boys U17 with its 4-0-1 slate and 22 goals.