The U17 squad of the Pasargad (PSG) FC manned by some members of the Little Azkals finished second in the tough Men’s Open division of the Mitre 3-on-3 Challenge, a futsal festival held in Bonifacio Global City last Sunday.
PSG FC head coach Eleazar Toledo said it was supposed to be just a fun outing for the boys to give them a break from the UFL Youth League wherein they are currently seeing action.
The outing also gave some members of the Little Azkals, otherwise known as the Philippine U14, a chance at coaching a team.
For the futsal festival, Toledo divided the team to two—Pasargad and Leylams.
Little Azkals team captain Darius Joseph “Jed” Diamante, Lawrence “Soysoy” Colina and Inigo Ugarte were given the chance to coach Pasargad while Jose Anton Yared, Jeremiah “JB” Borlongan and Kintaro Miyagi called the shots for Leylams.
Comprising Pasargad were Iani Miranda, Pablo Luis Garcia, Christian Floren Lapas, Sebastian Rafael Benedic Patangan, Keith Plotena, Juancho Fernandez, Mason Vergara and Ugarte.
Leylams had Vincent Erik Lovitos, Rexon Zyrus Capellan, Ezra Decena, Moiselle Angelo “Moimoi” Alforque, Majordean Ebarle, Shanden Vergara, Jovan Marfiga and Charles Bayot.
Despite going up against teams manned not only by older and bigger men, both teams advanced to the semifinals with Pasargad topping bracket A and Leylams placing second in bracket B.
Unfortunately, the teams had to face each other in the semifinals with Pasargad beating Leylams, 2-0, via penalty shootout, after the regulation ended at 2-all.
In the regulation, Garcia had given Pasargad its first goal followed by the contribution of Lapas. Leylams, however, forced a penalty shootout with Shanden Vergara scoring two goals. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON