Davao: PH booters beat Guam in Vietnam

THE Filipino girl booters ended their campaign in the AFC U14 Festival of Football in Vietnam with a 3-0 thrashing of Guam, a fitting finish to what was described by the coaching staff as an excellent run.

The PH squad was formed only months with the players coming from different regions, including five from Davao, but performed well enough to draw praises in the week-long competition against the best teams in Asia.
The national team also beat Chinese Taipei and Cambodia and held host Vietnam to a draw in the tournament played at the Than Long Sports Center in Ho Chi Minh. The girls lost to superior countries like Japan, China, DPR Korea and South Korea.


According to Buboy Arrieta, father of defender Nina Arrieta who travelled with the team, the coaching staff led by Robert Manlolo was elated with the performance of the girls.

Arrieta said team manager Junie Lizares was also ecstatic with the showing of the youn girl booters.

"These girls are a bit special. There's a need to support them so they can grow and develop together that will define our future in womens' football in the country," Arrieta quoted Lizares as saying. "The result clearly shows we are not far from other Asean countries, but still can catch with the best of Asia.

The Philippine coaching staff confessed this was the best girls team it has mentored thus far.

Aside from Arrieta, booters from Davao City who played for the national team were Janna Barcemo, Joana Marie Adao, Nina Ricci Yanto and Gabby del Fierro. (CRAM)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on June 20, 2011.