The Bukidnon Football Association blanked One La Salle, 2-0, and clinched the overall championship in the recent Luzon Cup Under -12 Football Tournament at the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex in San Jose, Tarlac.
Spearheaded by the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) with the Central Luzon Football Association, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Department of Education Tarlac, and the provincial and city governments of Tarlac as other prime movers, the event was the third of a series of football tournaments for Under-12 / Under-13 boys.
The first two, the NOFA Cup (on its fourth edition) was held last summer and the second, the Mindanao Cup was held last October. It was also Bukidnon FA that topped that Mindanao Cup and their feat qualified them for a berth at the Luzon Cup.
Top winners of Luzon Cup’s First Division (Cup) were: One La Salle Salle, first runner-up; Rizal Football Association Quezon City, second runner-up; and Masbate Football Association, third runner-up.
Meanwhile, Cordillera Football Association – Baguio secured the Division 1 Plate Championship, with Central Bicol Regional Football Association and Laguna Football Association finishing second and third, respectively. Youth Football Academy Muntinlupa wound up fourth.
In the Second Division, the top winners were Pangasinan United Football Club, champion; Tuguegarao City Football Club, first runner-up; Camarines Norte United, second runner-up; and Central Luzon Football Association – Tarlac, third runner-up.
Players of Bukidnon FA obtained most of the individual awards: Jun Dominique Melig was awarded Best Goalkeeper; Jimm Leowell Fabela, Best Defender and Most Valuable Player. One La Salle’s Fritz Kenzo Chua was chosen as the Best Midfielder. RIFA QC’s Filbert Martin Tacardon got the Best Striker Award with 27 goals.
CLFA President Mr. Alvin Yalung and General Secretary Mr. Ed Flaminiano thanked NOFA President Mr. Ricardo “Ricky” Yanson, Jr., for his efforts in spearheading the Luzon Cup especially since the said age-group tournament is the first in the region in the last three years. “I know in his heart, he wants to develop the young players so they can one day play for the national team,” Mr. Yalung said of Mr. Yanson.
