Mindanaotoday.com | Comets shine bright to capture two titles
By: Jack Biantan
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Rosevale Football FC Comets of Rosevale School uptown Cagayan de Oro City are back on track as the city’s top football talent producer when the Comets defied odds to win two titles in the 1st Atty. Lordan Suan Congressional Football Cup held at the MGV football field in barangay Carmen.
The Comets won both titles in the 9Mix and 12 Mix categories via penalty shootouts breaking the hearts of their Uptown neighbors Corpus Christi Knights on both occasions.
Rosevale FC team A first defeated Corpus Christi Knights FC in 9Mix, 2-1, in a penalty shootout final match then went on to celebrate more with a 3-2 win over the Knights in another shootout win in the 12 Mix category.
Rosevale FC team A composed of Daniel Kasch Gabor, Zoe Hovdesven, Eavo Burgos, Alessandro Danosta, Carlos Lopez, Adrian Primor, Allesandra Mulat and Riley Salilig, had to battle with Montecarlo FC in a shootout in the elimination round after they were tied in the team standings to advance to the quarterfinals.
They then defeated Manolo United FC 2-1 in another shootout in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis where they also defeated their elimination round tormentor OLLES FC, 3-2. Rosevale FC team A player Zoe Hovdesven, won the MVP ward and Daniel Kasch Gabor the Best Goalkeeper award.
In the 12Mix category, the Comets swept the elimination round defeating Gran Europa FC,5-0, Higala FC A, 2-0, and Opol FC 2-0. They then defeated Lumbia Raptors, 3-2, in the quarterfinals via penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the regulation.
They then edged Higala FC A in the semis,1-0, then highlighted their upheads performance in this one-day tournament organized by Sabado Gang with a 3-2 win over the Corpus Christi Knights in the championship.
Nathaniel Rickbert won the MVP award while Tyler Edwards won the Best Goalkeeper Award for Rosevale coach Dennis Bongocan. Other members of the team are Levi Garcia, Berne Lopez, Lee Raines Tangcalagan, Sebastian Abucay, Markus Roperos, Muhammad Amer Ali Rahman, Audrick Ross Alenton, and Damian Ratunil.
Rosevale’s Boys 16 team was not so lucky as it was eliminated in the quarterfinal by eventual champion Pinutos FC after a scoreless draw. Members of the Boys 16 team are Albert Montenegro, Enzo Burgos, Alderman Heart Tan, Feb Fuentes, Jonathan White, Ravi Balbontin, Liam Gabor, Josh Saavedra, Isaac Samuel Albarta, Hans Mguel Bacarro, Ken Chaves, and Thor Arce.
The positive results according the school’s athletic director and coach Dennis Bongocan was result of hardwork by the players and the endless support of the management and the parents.
The COVID pandemic paralyze their program for almost three years and then most of their outstanding and experienced players transferred to other schools. Coach Dennis all members except one of their entire varsity squad which played in the Palaro in 2018 season transferred to other schools forcing them to start from scratch.
He said that during the COVID they tried online training but it was only short-lived as the players wanted to train face to face but were not allowed by authorities. “It was difficult for us as contact sports were not allowed in Cagayan de Oro while other places in the provinces were allowed to train and organize football tournaments,’’ he said.
So when school opened in 2022 they have to start from scratch and trained their own students. Their first positive result was when early this year their U7 Mix team defeated the formidable Don Bosco Technology Center of Cebu in the championship during the Rosevale Cup 2023.
“We are very thankful for the school, parents and most specially to God for the support. We have to play catch-up from the lost momentum and hopefully we are back in our winning ways,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro’s 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan, together with tournament organizer and Sabado Gang president Rene Batar and CMORFA president Mike Batiles opened the1st Atty. Lordan Suan Congressional Football Cup at the
MGV Football Field in barangay Carmen.
Atty. Lordan Suan, a staunch supporter of the game, inspired the hundreds of players with his story on how he once scored a goal during his younger years while playing the beautiful game. “The feeling of scoring a goal was great. But I just scored once and I can not forget it,” he said.
He added that he will work with the local football association and the Sabado Gang to continue to develop the sport.
The former Cagayan de Oro City Councilor from Carmen, then took some time to do selfies with the players and parents.
Results:
1st Atty. Lordan Suan Congressional Football Cup
9 MIX
Champion-Rosevale FC 1ST RUNNER-UP Corpus Christi Knights FC 2ND RUNNER-UP OLLES FC; BEST GOALKEEPER – Cash Gador (ROSEVALE SCHOOL FC); BEST DEFENDER – Zion Maagad (Corpus Christi FC); MVP Zoey Hovdesven (ROSEVALE SCHOOL FC)
12 MIX
CHAMPION – Rosevale School FC; 1ST RUNNER-UP-Corpus Christi Knights FC; 2ND RUNNER-UP Higala FC; BEST GOALKEEPER Tyler Edwards (ROSEVALE SCHOOL FC); BEST DEFENDER – Jayce Rebolido; (CORPUS CHRISTI KNIGHTS FC); MVP- Nick Rickert (ROSEVALE SCHOOL FC)
16 BOYS
CHAMPION – Pinutos FC; 1ST RUNNER-UP- Adogs FC; 2ND RUNNER-UP Higala FC
BEST GOALKEEPER- Jan Justine Dominique Melig (Punutos FC); BEST DEFENDER Tracey Wayan (Pinutos FC); MVP Jacobo HIbaya (Pinutos FC)
19 GIRLS
CHAMPION-Higala FC; 1ST RUNNER-UP Bulua Strikers FC; 2ND RUNNER-UP MUFC Iligan
BEST GOALKEEPER- Kyla Albarico (Higala FC); BEST DEFENDER – Gale Lion Locking (HIGALA FC); MVP- Danny Taal (HIGALA FC)
40 UP
CHAMPION – Diamond FC B; 1ST RUNNER—UP -Sabado Gang FC; 2ND RUNNER-UP-Steelers FC
50 UP
CHAMPION – Steelers FC; 1ST RUNNER-UP Advocates FC; 2ND RUNNER-UP Sabado Gang FC a
TOP SCORER AWARD-Larry Taking (Sabado Gang FC) (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)
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