Panay FA downs Central Visayas to bag bronze in PFF U19 National C’ships

Panay Football Association players and coaches pose for a group photo during the awarding. CDN Digital photo | Glendale Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Panay Football Association (PFA) brought home the bronze medal in the ongoing Philippine Football Federation (PFF) U19 National Championships by defeating the host team, Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA), 2-1, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex in Talisay City, Cebu. 

It was sweet revenge for Ilonggo veteran coach Noel Casilao and his team, who were defeated by CVFA in Group B’s competition last June at the same venue.

This time, they made the necessary adjustments and scouted CVFA’s style on the pitch to bag the victory and the bronze. 

Hard work pays off

“We’re very ecstatic and happy, all our hard work paid off. The tenacity of the team to win the consolation prize of the tournament brought us here,” said Casilao, who came from a 1-7 defeat against finalist National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA). 

“I just positioned my players differently because I realized we couldn’t survive in the midfield area. I switched also my players because some of them couldn’t play. I had two players who were injured. They cannot play, no choice, but to use [whoever] I have on the bench.”

Mark Sheen Estacion shocked CVFA with a 25th-minute goal. Estacion cut through the defense of CVFA to receive a lob from Kent Laurenz Dela Peña and kicked the ball straight to the back of the net.

PFA led at halftime, 1-0.

In the second half, Dela Peña exploited another crack at CVFA’s defense to score the second goal with a breakaway in the 47th minute to make it 2-0 for PFA.

After many unsuccessful attempts, CVFA finally scored their first goal in the 74th minute to stay alive, 1-2, courtesy of Theo Libarnes. 

Nothing to lose

With a sense of desperation, CVFA relentlessly attacked PFA’s goalpost and even earned an extra eight minutes. 

Despite CVFA’s assault, PFA managed to hang on until the final whistle. 

“We had nothing to lose. We went here to play our own brand of football. This is our last game, and we told the boys, at least we need to win this game to give pride to Ilonggo football. It was a saving grace for us and it’s proof that football is alive and well in Iloilo and Panay,” said Casilao.

The championship match features NCRFA and Stallion Laguna FC scheduled at 2 p.m. 

The game was ongoing as of this posting.

/bmjo

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