SAN MIGUEL Davao Aguilas Football Club (FC), which drew powerhouse FC Meralco Manila (2-2) Thursday, June 22, at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex field in Tagum City, is upbeat about scoring a win when it collides with Ilocos United FC anew on Sunday in the resumption of the Philippine Football League (PFL) at the same venue .
Coaching staff Melchor Anzures, who hails from Davao City, "Gumagana na ang tinatrabaho namin na problema ng team nung game with Meralco so nai-draw namin ang Meralco dahil sa effort ng mga players. Midfield defense jud ang problema namo pirmi. Hopefully this coming Sunday panalo na."
He said that the team is improving every game, adding, "So far so good."
Defender Jason Cordova of Iloilo City, for his part, said the first time they played against Ilocos United FC, which also ended up into a draw, they were just newly-formed as a team.
"Nung unang nakatapat namin ang Ilocos, first time ng team na sumali sa league. Pero ngayon, may jelling na kami na nasa 80 to 90 percent. Siguro mananalo na kami this coming Sunday," Cordova said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao on Thursday.
He cited their edge including ball possession, positioning and transition over Ilocos United FC but admitted that they still are working on how to convert goals.
In their game against FC Meralco Manila, witnessed by some 4,000 spectators, the San Miguel Davao Aguilas FC rallied to equalize the early goals of their rivals.
Princeton Zyreel Joshue said, "As a new developed team, gusto talaga naming manalo. Naunahan lang talaga kami ng Meralco mag-goal."
Mifielder Richard Talaroc, Jr. of Misamis Oriental also shared the same sentiment, saying that they could have won the match.
Defender Gerald Layumas, meanwhile, thanked the Davao fans for coming out to cheer them against FC Meralco Manila.
"Nakatabang jud ang mga fans na ma-boost ang morale sa players, tani continue ang pagsuporta sa mga fans sa team (The fans really helped boost the morale of the players, hoping that they continue to support the team)," Layumas said.
Cordova added, "This Sunday, kayo (fans) ulit magiging inspirasyon namin sa field."
Australian head coach Gary Philipps, in a statement, said the draw was no doubt a "massive confidence boost for the team."
"I think the bigger picture is for us, we grew as a team, we got back into the game and we showed a lot of spirit," he said. He earlier said when the team was launched that they will be competitive and their performance opposite FC Meralco Manila proved it.
The veteran coach also thanked the fans, saying, "It is great to have so many supporters here, it is great to be back home. We believe in this team. We believe in this club. I'm very proud of the effort, and collectively as a group, we are all very proud and we certainly can take it as a win."
