IN A stunning show of force, Far Eastern University-FERN completely overwhelmed Letran, 43-0, in the juniors division of the 2012 IPPCA Football Pre-Season Cup at Nuvali field in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.
Reaping the benefits of a solid program, the Baby Tamaraws flexed their muscles to produce an impressive show of firepower at Pitch No. 2 that allowed them to grab top spot in Group C.
What made the victory even more impressive was the fact that FEU started scoring only in the 23rd minute, when Mark Arranquez broke the ice. RJ Joyel doubled the lead a minute later for the first of his five goals, before the floodgates opened for the Baby Tamaraws.
In the lone seniors match, Emilio Aguinaldo College side leaned on Michael Ebare’s heroics to nip Mapua, 1-0, at Pitch No. 3.
Ebare, a 21-year-old criminology student from Bukidnon, struck from 25 yards out in the 60th minute for the only goal in the tightly fought seniors match in the tournament organized by Filoil Flying V Sports and bankrolled by IPPCA members members Chemrez Technologies Inc., Eastern Petroleum Corp., Filpride/USA88, Seaoil Philippines Inc., Flying V, Oilink, Unioil, International Engineer Phils. Inc., Filoil Energy Company, City Oil, Metro Oil Subic, LPGMA, Omni Petroleum Corp, Trans Overseas Industrial Corp. and CIIS.
The Generals had gone close at least five times until Ebare struck to push EAC into the solo lead in Group D, ahead of National U and Philippine Christian U, which battled to a 2-2 draw two weeks ago.
“We made some adjustments with our play down the middle and that led to the goal,” said EAC coach Warner Gesulga.
In other junior matches of the tournament, University of Santo Tomas held Hedgen to a 2-2 draw, even as Perpetual Help-Las Piñas battled Xavier School to a 1-all standoff.
Robert Dominic de Venecia’s late strike rescued the Altalletes from defeat.
Hedgen took a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute on Raphael Santos’ goal, before UST struck back three minutes later through Julian Clarino. Cedelf P. Tupas
The tournament’s other sponsors: Meralco, Nuvali, Nature’s Spring, Molten, N20 Gastropub, Boysen Paints, BDO, Topcoms/StarSports Korea, Bacchus, CDO San Marino Corned Tuna and Pingping Lechon.