Columbia, Palawan booters still alive

COLUMBIA and Palawan downed their respective foes yesterday and remained in contention for the last semifinal slot in the Philippine Football Federation-Smart National Club Championship at Bago City Sports Complex.

Edwin Giganto Jr. slammed home a brace as Columbia, representing the Davao Football Association, overwhelmed Alia of Zamboanga FA, 5-1, while Palawan leaned on Adornis Torres’ twin markers to clobber Baguio FA’s Benguet State U, 4-1.

Victory gave both Columbia and Palawan six match points apiece in a tie for second in Group A, although the former has a plus-one goal difference against the latter’s minus-four.

Columbia has a match in hand but it faces a mountain to climb against powerhouse Global of Leyte FA, which has scored a whopping 32 goals and conceded just one in three matches.

If the Columbia booters wind up losing by fewer than six goals to Global—the side managed by Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami and includes such stars as Angel Guirado, Misagh Bahadoran, Mark Hartmann and prolific Sudanese striker Izzeldin Elhabib—it will book the fourth and last spot in the semifinals.

A six-goal defeat will mean Palawan advances in the tournament bankrolled by Smart and sanctioned by the PFF.

Benguet State U, currently in fourth spot with three match points, likewise remains mathematically in contention. It will advance to the final four if it hurdles Alia by at least three goals and Columbia gets blown away by the Global juggernaut.

The No. 2 seed in Group A will battle defending champion Ceres-University of St. La Salle of host Negros Occidental FA, which emerged the No. 1 team in Group B after sweeping its three matches and scoring 26 goals while conceding none.

Global faces Group B second-placer Flame United-Cherifer of Cavite FA in the semifinals. George Lizarez, Contributor