Negros routs Iloilo for Suzuki U-23 title

BACOLOD—There was no doubting Ceres-Negros Occidental’s dominance this time.

A fired-up Negros squad humbled rival Iloilo, 9-0, Sunday night to complete a remarkable 12-1 aggregate victory in the final of the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup before a raucous crowd at the Panaad Stadium.

Gino Palomo delivered a hat-trick, Joshua Beloya punctuated his tournament-long brilliance with two goals and an assist and Aldrin Dolino justified hisMost Valuable Player award with another influential display as Negros took the fight of their region rivals early on to coast to the convincing win.

The lopsided victory – a product of slick passing and clinical finishing – reduced the controversy that marred the first leg into a mere footnote of what had been a sensational campaign for the Ceres-Negros side which finished the tournament undefeated.

“The score speaks for itself,” said Negros coach Norman Fegidero, who mentored the national side three years ago in the AFC Challenge Cup in Iloilo. “I cannot ask for more from my team, they really worked hard.”

Negros prevailed in the first leg in extra time in Iloilo, 3-1, Thursday after regulation ended 1-1. Both teams actually agreed to have the extra time played although by the rules, it is not conducted in the first match of a two-leg final.

The Philippine Football Federation nullified the extra session played after a protest by Iloilo, but the Ilonggos reportedly withdrew the protest, paving the way for the restoration of the result.

“The players’ morale were boosted by the decision to keep their hard-earned 3-1 win,” Fegidero said.

Facing a shorthanded Iloilo side, which had two players suspended because of red cards in the first leg, the Negrenses jumped the gun early with Beloya, a Filipino-American who grew up in Switzerland, firing a 35-yard free kick past replacement keeper VInce Braga six minutes into the game.

The goal opened the floodgates for Negros as Dolino scored from close-range 15 minutes later and Palomo, the quick right winger, added two more before halftime, including a thunderous volley in the 38th minute.

Palomo had the stadium rocking in delight as he completed his hat-trick with another fine strike five minutes after the break, before Beloya grabbed his second in the 75th minute.

Down 0-6 and 1-9 on aggregate, Iloilo looked like it gave away two goals deliberately as defenders passed the ball back to Negros substitute Ralph Layumas and simply watched him put two goals past another replacement keeper, Jomar Lestingio.

As the crowd booed Iloilo’s unwillingness to defend, the Ilonggos were seen clapping as Layumas scored the second of his two goals for an 8-nil scoreline.

Jake Morallo, whose work rate at midfield drew raves from Fegidero, scored the last goal of the maiden tournament with a surging run from midfield that ended with a well-placed shot in the 88th minute.

Beloya who was discovered by Negros coaches playing Sunday football at Panaad finished the tournament with 15 goals to earn the best striker award while teammate Camilo Tacusalme was adjudged best defender. John Mendoza of Negros was named best goalkeeper.

Francis Gustilo of Iloilo was selected best midfielder.

Iloilo manager JR Robles said the decision by the PFF to retain the 3-1 result clearly affected his players.

“They played wit a very low morale tonight,” Robles said even as he blamed the organizers for their failure to stick to their earlier decision.

Reporters covering the game were surprised when they were still handed copies of the PFF decision to make the game 1-1 after the match, despite the fact that it was already overturned by the federation on the eve of the second leg.