The Philippine U15 (under 15) team celebrates after beating the Anza U15 team in their JSSL Professional Academy match age group 7 in Singapore on Sunday, September 4, 2022. Philippine team’s morale boosting after victory en Manchester United’s English midfielder Michael Carrick (left, second row, standing). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
(UPDATED) A U15 (under 15) soccer team from Davao City took the age group championship at the JSSL Professional Academy 7 meet in Singapore on Sunday.
The Davao Eagles defeated the Anza Socceroos, 1-0, in overtime.
Mike Atayde, president of the Davao Aguilas Football Club (DAFC), told The Manila Times that the Filipinos were up against a taller and bigger team made up of players from Australia and New Zealand.
“Anza’s team was made up of tall, skilled players, mostly Australians. Our Filipino boys played with the same skill and a lot of determination, giving it their all,” said Atayde.
Anza had more attempts on goal, but Águilas defended well and came out with counterattacks, he said.
The regulation period ended in a 0-0 tie, with JSSL rules stipulating that overtime would be a three-on-three format.
“Coach Aber Ruzgal made a bet by replacing the DAFC goalkeeper with a right-back so that we can attack fluidly towards the opposite goal,” said Atayde.
In extra time, Andrés Dumlao passed the ball to John Mark Visitacion, who found Karl Molina wide open.
Molina scored to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The Filipinos beat 11 other teams in their age group and never conceded a goal, which Atayde attributed to the team’s solid defense and goalkeeper Josh Stephen Borromeo.
The photo shows the trophy won by the Philippine U15 (under 15) team. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The JSSL tournament in Singapore pitted 450 teams competing from U6 (under six) to U16 (under 16).
The Eagles will participate in the Bakuna Cup on September 17 and in the Youth Football League on September 24, both to be held at the Alabang Country Club.
The Youth Football League is the largest 11-a-side football tournament in the country in which 11 players make up a team.
In addition to Borromeo, Dumlao, Visitacion and Molina, the other members of the team are Andres Eduardo Barredo, Sebastian Gabriel Guinto, Jaeseung Kim, Noah Ong Llamado, Gabriel Luis Montelibano, Lucas Martin Montelibano, Santiago Juanito Remulla, Zedrick Roa and Nicolo Andres Feliciano.