DISTANCE was never a hindrance for the Mindanao-based Koronadal in conquering one of the country’s most prestigious tournaments as they captured two age-group titles in the just-concluded 4th Ceres Cup held in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
Competing for the first time, the South Cotabato booters traveled 24 hours to stun the Negrense crowd with their superb skills and talents, winning the Boys 11 and Boys 16 categories in the two-day tournament.
Behind eventual most valuable player (MVP) Lance Pusoc, Koronadal beat Iloilo’s ACM Chieffy Caligdong Football Club (FC) in the Boys 11 as Football Kings United and San Carlos City finished second and third runner-up, respectively.
In a hard-fought Boys 16 finals, Koronadal came out with a solid game led by MVP Kenry Guerhem to outplay Kidz United of Tacloban. Junior FC and Warzhockz FC respectively settled for second and third runner-up.
The Visayas rivalry continued in Ceres Cup as Barotac Nuevo Iloilo led by MVP Kent Prian Valen edged Nofa-Negros Selection in a shootout to capture the Boys 14 title trailed by Cagayan de Oro and Cadiz City for the runners-up honors.
Barotac Nuevo’s Tamasak FC also defeated Negros Selection to win the Boys 12 with Kent de la Peña named as MVP while Don Bosco Cebu and San Carlos City finished as runners-up.
The Negrenses got back with Magnificos United led by MVP Isa Carmona as it defeated Jaro FC to win the Ladies Open crown while Minuluan FC and Afficionados de Futbol took the runners-up honors.
Completing the Day 2 winners : (Mixed 10) champion – Don Bosco Cebu followed by Montevista United, Rovers FC of Davao and ACM Chieffy Caligdong FC; (Girls 16) champion – San Carlos City followed by Miriam College, Sta. Barbara and Cebu United; and (Men’s Open) champion – Alumni United followed by Ceres La Salle, Barbados and Tanjay FC-A.
Nicholas Golez, Ceres Cup organizing committee chairman, said they will conduct a post-tournament assessment to determine the things that they will work out to ensure that next year’s edition will be better.
“We are growing every year thus, we need to be ready way ahead to make sure that we meet with the demands of the tournament,” he added.
