Almost 4,000 players from 280 teams nationwide kicked off their bids as the two-day Alaska Football Cup 2012 unfolded Saturday at Ayala Alabang Country Club fields.
Fielding teams from various age groups were varsity teams and youth football clubs from Metro Manila, Baguio, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Laguna, Batangas, Ilocos, Bicol, Leyte, Cebu and Davao.
In the 16-under age group, FEU Energen and La Salle Zobel emerged as favorites after overwhelming their early opponents in the elimination round.
FEU Energen led the Boys 16 Group A with nine points, built on huge shutout victories over Quezon City Science High School (7-0), Ateneo de Davao (4-0) and Eastmont FC (5-0).
La Salle Zobel paced the Girls 16 Group A with 12 points following convincing triumphs against Westfield IS Angeles (12-0), Ateneo de Cebu (2-1), Angels FC (8-0) and Canossa Academy (7-0).
Similarly putting a dominant show in the Boys 14, FEU Energen racked up nine points after shutting out Singapore School Manila (8-0), Tarlac FS (12-0) and Xavier (6-0) in Group A.
Group A’s Tanauan FC and Group E’s Ateneo de Davao also got off to unbeaten starts for nine markers in the Boys 14.
Tanuan FC downed Tarlac FS (5-0), Leveriza FC (1-0) and Singapore School Manila (4-0), while Ateneo de Davao clobbered Brent IS Manila (2-1), Tarlac Football School (3-0) and Payatas FC (3-0).
In Boys 12, Olongapo City FC triumphed over CIE Tacloban City (5-0), Raya FC (2-0), Westfields IS Angeles (1-0), but bowed to Makati FC-Elite (1-4) for nine points in Group A.