Ceres, USLS down Teen Azkals in friendly match

Jerome S. Galunan Jr. Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper


EXPERIENCE was the key as the home teams from the North Ceres Selection and Ceres-University of St. La Salle (USLS) outplayed the much younger Philippine U16 team-Teen Azkals in the friendly matches held Monday and Tuesday, respectively, at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

In their match against the North Ceres Selection, the nationals bowed down, 5-1.

Ceres’ Ali Rojas Go sparked the locals’ offense with the squad’s first goal in close range after overpowering the national team’s defense. Fil-Am Joshua Beloya then nailed the team’s second on a 15-yard strike to put the home team on the lead at the break, 2-nil.

In the second half, Ceres became more aggressive on offense putting the nationals’ defense to mess up.

Three more goals from Ceres’ Rolando Ian Treyes, Eliseo Palomo Jr. and Archie Familiar made it impossible for the Glenn Ramos-coached Teen Azkals to catch up.

Teen Azkals’ skipper Skie Doug Carranza secured the national team’s lone goal only in the late part of the match.

On the other hand, in the match against Nene Lazarito-mentored Ceres-USLS Tuesday, the national team failed to avenge their early defeat against the Ceres Selection as they lost anew, 5-2.

Norman Seloterio opened the USLS’ scoring on a quick attack stunning the nationals’ defense as Ralph Layumas nailed the team’s second at close range. J Buguioro and Joel Bedia added two more goals from just above the penalty box to post a 4-nil lead.

It was Negrense Ryu Nell Fegidero, nephew of former national men’s head coach Norman Fegidero, who nailed the Teen Azkals’ first goal after escaping from his defender.

The score was 4-1 at the end of the first half.

In the second half, Aldrin Dolino scored USLS’ fifth goal after beating the nationals’ defense and converting in close range.

But the nationals scored another from team’s skipper Carranza to put the game at 5-2 at the final whistle.

Backing Lazarito in the coaching side are Ramon Janeo, Ali Go, Hemerson Campo, Michael Casas while Leo Rey Yanson managed the team.

Last Sunday, Teen Azkals held the Philippine Musangs U19 team of Spanish coach Maor Rozen to a scoreless draw.

The recent hostilities were part of the 1st Teen Azkals Festival which aimed to tap new breed of players to don the Teen Azklas in future international competitions.

Team manager Alvin Carranza Carranza stressed that the festival aimed at spreading friendship and unifying Filipinos, who are known to be sports-minded, for the love of football.

Meanwhile, the Teen Azkals is composed of 19 homegrown players – handpicked with the help of the football associations in the provinces all over the country.

Leading the list are Bacolod-hailed Phil John Battalones, Nessi Villanueva Ramos, Christian Paul Jover and Ryu Nell Fegidero.

Also in the line-up are Ilonggo Jose Zaldy Abraham Jr., Dumaguete’s Jose Adrian de la Sierra, Raymundo Santilla and Angelo Gabriel Bahoyan; Cebu’s Yves Russel Caballero, Antonio Eduardo Rafols and Renko Feliz Gaudiel; and Jhoguer Pasilan Ybañez (San Carlos City).

Also suited up for the team are Mindanao’s pride from Bukidnon Jose Brian Langub Romo and Alfred Inaki Nacuna and Alexis Joseph Juan (Davao).

For the Luzon and National Capital Region area Jonah Vidal Suarez (Laguna) and NCR’s Luis Gabriel Sumera, Paolo Gabriel Alilam, Raphael Vincent Resuma and skipper Skie Doug Carranza.

NOFA team play Teen Azkals to a draw

Report from Barbara Mijares, ABS-CBN News Negros

MANILA, Philippines – The friendly match of the Teen Azkals against the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) Under-19 team last Sunday ended in a scoreless draw.

Teen Azkals head coach Glen Ramos said they will be playing friendly matches with different teams from the province as part of their preparation for the Under-19 tournament.

The Teen Azkals will play against the Ceres team on Monday and then against the University of St. La Salle team on Tuesday. Both friendlies will be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

The Teen Azkals are composed of 19 homegrown players. They represented the Philippines in last July’s Asian Football Federation Under-16 Youth Championships.

Teen Azkals tryouts in Panaad Aug. 27

The Visayan Daily Star


The Philippine national Under 16 football team will hold a tryout at the Panaad pitch at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The tryouts dubbed as the 1st Teen Azkals Festival will be conducted by national coach Glenn Ramos and supervised by team manager Alvin Carranza.

New talents are expected to join in the tryouts and those who display impressive skills will be tapped to join the exhibition games between the Teen Azkals and seasoned local teams.

On August 28, the Teen Azkals will play against the Under 19 team at 8:30 a.m. and will face the Ceres Team the next day at 3:30 p.m. Their final game will be against University of St. La Salle at 3:30 p.m. on August 30.

“This is a very laudable move from the team manager to keep the team together and explore new horizons for the team, and for the others as well,” Philippine Football Federation Secretary General Ramon Manuel said.

Carranza said the festival is aimed at spreading friendship and unifying Filipinos, who are known to be sports-minded, for the love of football.

“We hope to develop talents from the grassroots and seek scholarships for the young talents,” Carranza said, adding that with enough funding, the PFF hopes to establish a football university to mold young talents inside the Ultra-Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission compound.

The Teen Azkals is composed of 19 homegrown players -- handpicked with the help of the football associations in the provinces all over the country.

Members of the present lineup of the Teen Azkals are: Jose Zaldy Abraham Jr. (Iloilo), Jose Adrian de la Sierra (Dumaguete), Christian Paul Jover (Bacolod), Jonah Vidal Suarez (Laguna), Luis Gabriel Sumera (National Capital Region), Jose Brian Langub Romo (Bukidnon);

Alfred Inaki Nacuna (Bukidnon), Phil John Battalones (Bacolod), Nessi Villanueva Ramos (Bacolod), Raymundo Santilla (Dumaguete), Angelo Gabriel Bahoyan (Dumaguete), Alexis Joseph Juan (Davao), Skie Doug Carranza (NCR, team captain), Yves Russel Caballero (Cebu);

Renko Feliz Gaudiel (Cebu), Paolo Gabriel Alilam (NCR), Ryu Nell Fegidero (Bacolod), Antonio Eduardo Rafols (Cebu), Jhoguer Pasilan Ybanez (San Carlos City), Raphael Vincent Resuma (NCR).

The team represented the country recently in the ASEAN Football Federation U16 Youth Championship in Vientiane, Laos.*