SBC Red Booters Outlast Opponent In IPPCA

Substitute striker Ashley Flores struck in the 63rd minute to lift reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champion San Beda Red Booters past Arellano University, 3-2,  in the inaugural Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA)  Football Pre-Season Cup at Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The 18-year-old Flores scored the winning goal just moments after he entered the match for the Red Lions, who posted their second consecutive triumph in the tournament  organized by Filoil Flying V  Sports and sponsored by Meralco, Nuvali, Nature’s Spring, Molten, N20 Gastropub, Boysen Paints, BDO, Topcoms/StarSports Korea, Bacchus, CDO San Marino Corned Tuna and Pingping Lechon.

San Beda climbed to the solo lead Group C of the tournament co-organized and bankrolled by Ippca members Chemrez Technologies Inc., Eastern Petroleum Corp., Filpride/USA88, Seaoil Philippines Inc., Flying V, Oilink, Unioil, International Engineer Phils. Inc., Filoil Energy Co., City Oil, Metro Oil Subic, LPGMA, Omni Petroleum Corp., Trans Overseas Industrial Corp. and CIIS.

“Galing sa bakasyon ang mga bata. Kinakapa pa nila ang fitness level nila. Naging consistent lang ang game namin ‘nung pumasok si Ashley. ’Nung naka-score siya duon na nakapag-adjust ang team,” said San Beda coach Jeffrey Liman.

The Red Booters, who placed third in the University Games in Bacolod City last week, opened up scoring with a 40-yard blast from Alejandro Baldo in the 11th minute and a 25-yard slam from Aaron Carlos in the 23rd minute.

But a determined Arellano side refused to crumble. They scored on Alvin Obero’s 20-yard free kick in the 39th minute.

Obero again struck early in the second half, his penalty kick sailing over the head of goalie Anthony Alban in the 53rd  to tie the match at 2-all.

After Flores scored, the Red Lions clamped down on Obero through the leech-like hounding of Neil Dorimon and Stephen Abriol.

In the other senior matches, Ateneo-Flying V defeated University of Perpetual Help, 8-1, and the Philippine Christian University Dolphins turned back Mapua, 3-1.

Lester Amita scored two goals, including a crucial marker in the 76 minute, to lead Far Eastern University to a 3-2 win past Lyceum, 3-2,  while Emilio Aguinaldo College played National University to a 1-1 draw.

In juniors action, the San Beda Junior Booters walloped the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 11-0, while Ateneo repulsed the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 4-0.

Mico Mabanag scored three goals (18th, 71st and 86th) as Ateneo grabbed the solo lead in Group B with a 1-0-1 win-loss-draw record.

source: MB Sports