Solido FC: Kings of Croc Field

In a bizarre end to a drama-filled Crocodile Park Night Football League, Solido FC captured the overall title on a night they crashed out in the eliminations along with their bitter rivals Metro TMS.

 

The night started with both Solido FC and Metro TMS on collision course for a much-anticipated encounter that will determine the overall champion of this football trilogy. However, all that banished with a few matches left in the third leg’s elimination round as Solido, with only two wins to show in six elimination matches, bowed out first from a semis appearance that would have given them a psychological edge for the overall title.

 

For a fleeting moment, the title frenzy crept into the nerves of Metro TMS which needed only two draws in their final two matches in the eliminations round. Instead of playing to secure two draws, Metro TMS got all carried over with the prospects of snatching the title away from Solido and instead drew one but lost their final outing to Phl Rabies-Med Juris in a painful twist of fate that also booted them out of the semis and the title picture.

 

With Metro TMS also gone, Solido rolled out the celebration. Here’s a team which lost out of the semis but still got plenty to spare to take home the prestigious Crocodile Cup, a real crocodile head stuffed with a football, and the bragging rights as Kings of the Croc Field.

 

Solido FC team captain Boboy Arrieta, who had to attend to a business engagement and failed to suit up, arrived at a time when his team was going down. He watched intently from the sidelines hoping for a miracle. For a team leader, that was the hardest thing to do—just pray the other teams won’t catch up with you and not even suit up.

 

“I was already thinking wala na talaga. But then suddenly the guys came celebrating after the matches in the other field,” said Arrieta. “It feels great.”

 

“We played very tight, we did not have fun out there. Pus there are the defensive lapses we committed,” Metro TMS playing coach Eric Sedighpour said. “We will come back next time.”

 

Solido ended the football trilogy organized by Bravetower Events Promotions and Davao Crocodile Park with 95 points. They won the second leg and finished second in the first leg to Metro TMS which finished second overall with 85 points. Alia Orange took advantage of the ouster of Solido and Metro TMS to take home the third leg and end up at third overall with 70.

 

Belisario, Phl Rabies-Med Juris and Kingfisher tied for fourth with 55 points. KMMPC (45) finished 5^th while FC Soriente and Club 34 (40) tied for 6^th. Rounding up the standings are Fil-Chi, Central United, UIC, UM and DMMA.

 

Fil-Dutch Bayani Vandenbroek, German Dietmar Speckmaier and team captain Josef Montalan scored one goal each for Alia Orange to frustrate Kingfisher, a team composed of foreign students in Davao, in the third leg finale of this first ever night football tournament at the Davao Crocodile Park football field.

 

“We look forward to holding more tournaments here. We are thankful to the clubs for their support,” said Neil Bravo of the organizing Bravetower Events Promotions.(pr)

Solido-Fil Chi, AA FC win DFA openers

Action in the DFA 2nd Divison League payed at the Tionko Field.

The father-son tandem of Buboy and Mikoh Arrieta combined for three markers to power
Solido-Fil Chi to a devastating 7-2 victory over FC Sonriente as the DFA Second Division
Football League formally kicked off over the weekend at the Tionko Field.

The pony-tailed Buboy opened up the scoring for Solido-Fil Chi as he found the net in the 14th
minute. The marker proved to be the tall order a son had to outdo in the process but son Mikoh
was up to the challenge bettering the marksmanship of his father with goals in the 20th and 34th in
between one scored by Jay Miguel in the 27th.

Solido’s other markers came from Jepony Agustin in the 49th, Gary Ocampo in the 51st, and
Mark Descallar (54th). FC Sonriente could only respond with a couple of goals courtesy of
Vincent Baquillos (19th) and Ruben Vargas (60th).

In another opening day match of this event organized by the Davao Football Association (DFA),
AA FC also went on a headstart with a 2-1 win over Black Knights. Former national team
mainstay Melchor Anzures rammed home the first goal in the 53rd and teammate Zidoy Ibarra
added another eight minutes later for a 2-0 cushion. Black Knights’ lone goal came via penalty in
the 73rd.

In other matches, Metro TMS drew its first match with PNP 3-3, and Club 34B also drew with
Belisario Futbol 3-3. George Valenzona booted in a pair of markers in the 14th and 85th and
Christian Ea added one in the 65th but their efforts were matched eually by Ian Pongo (13, 80)
and Monaster Arimaw (36). (NJB with a report from Julio Orcasitas)

DFAid: Davao footballers show love for flood victims

ABS-CBN representative Andy Rara receives the donations from Sunday's benefit fun games DFAid (Davao Football Aid) from Davao Football Community's Buboy Arrieta and Davao Football Association president Edward "Chaya" Lam. The charity games held last Sunday at the Crocs Field inside Riverfront City raised support for the flood victims of Davao. The event was organized by the Davao Football Association, Davao Football Community, ABS CBN and Bravetower Promotions. Davao City Host Lions Club led by president Walter Vilacencio also gave their donations through DFAid.

Support flooded at the Crocs Field on Sunday with the staging of DFAid or Davao

Football Aid which gathered some 300 football aficionados who played and gave their share for the June

29 flood victims of Davao.

Football players from the different clubs under the Davao Football Community, the Davao Football

Association, host Crocodile Park management, and the Lions Club of Davao City all came for the DFAid

fun games with their contributions--some came with food, clothing, shoes while the rest chipped in their

share of cash donations.

Davao Football Association president Edward “Chaya” Lam and Davao Football Community’s Buboy

Arrieta, Crocodile Park management’s Dino Dizon and Christian Ea, DFA coaches Alex Adolfo and

Melchor Anzures turned over the donation to ABS CBN DXAB Station Manager Andy Rara shortly after

the fun games.

“We thank the DFC and everyone who gave their help for the flood victims, we hope that this will

provide some relief to them. We will not hesitate to play for our fellow Davawenyos who need help,”

sad Lam after the turnover.

“The show of support was overwhelming. The outcome more than surpassed our expectations,” said

volunteer organizer Neil Bravo.

Earlier, Davao City Host Lions Club also gave their donation through the DFAid. They were led by

President Walter Villacencio, himself a football enthusiast, Secretary Melanie Villacencio, PCC Jose Cua,

PP Teresita Javellana, PP Tita Melanculicco, PP Lucio Ongsiu, PP Nelson Yusie and members Ester Reys,

Medy Suansing, Melanio Reyes, and Ricardo Suansing.

DFCs Arrieta received the donations and thanked the Davao City Host Lions Club for choosing to channel

their donation trough the DFAid.

DFAid is a project of the Davao Football Association in cooperation with the Davao Football Community,

ABS-CBN Davao and Bravetower Promotions.(pr)