Six teams including one foreign squad, will see action in the Stallion Invitational Cup which kicked off at 1:30 p.m. yesterday between Stallion Laguna FC and the Davao Aguilas at the 2,500-seat Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
“The Stallion Invitational Cup will be a good pre-season tuneup tournament for all the five squads competing in the national league being organized by the Philippine Football Federation next month,” said Stallion Laguna FC squad’s Ernie Nierras at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.
Aside from the two squads, also competing in the pocket tournament are Los Angeles-based Belmont-Deft Touch FC, Global Queen City FC, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and Kaya Makati FC, according to Nierras in the session backed by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and Accel.
The other match at 3:30 p.m. pits Global, the reigning United Football League champion, against the Loyola Meralco Sparks.
He added that Stallion, Global and Davao make up Group A while Loyola, Kaya and Deft Touch form Group B in the single-round elimination series where the group topnotchers advance outright to the semifinals.
“The remaining squads will then face off against the squads in the other groups based on their placings after the eliminations, with the winners also entering the semis,” explained Nierras, who thanked Biñan Mayor Arman Dimaguila Jr. for supporting the tournament on his home turf. “The semifinal winners will dispute the championship.”
“Of course we want to win the tournament on our home pitch,” said the former national women’s coach of Stallion’s goal in the event also backed by Star, the official ball, Giligan’s, Nixare and Belmont Hotel and Resorts.
“Hopefully we can also perform well, reach the finals and play for the title,” said Belmont Deft Touch coach Trey Schamlin of his young squad of aspiring footballers mostly from the Los Angeles area, including some Fil-Ams.
Nierras said that those who might not be able to witness the matches live at the Binan Stadium can keep track of the tournament developments through the Stallion Laguna FC Facebook page and website where the games will be aired via video streaming.