Central Visayas blanks Zamboanga to clinch football quarterfinal slot

Central Visayas scores a close win against Zamboanga Peninsula with two of their regulars playing hurt

Myke Miravite

Published 9:41 PM, May 06, 2014

Updated 9:41 PM, May 06, 2014

PLAYING HURT. 2 of Central Visayas's regulars played with injury but they still won over Zamboanga. Photo by Aki Yatco/Rappler

LAGUNA, Philippines – After a searing start in this year’s secondary football contention, Central Visayas hit a speed bump on Tuesday, May 6.

The Region IX booters scraped past Zamboanga Region, 2-0, in the 2014 Palarong Pambansa at the Laguna State Polytechnic University in Sta. Cruz.

Central Visayas posted impressive wins in their first two meetings against Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon – scoring a total of 21 goals and conceding just 3 – but faced a hard-nosed Region IX that tested their mettle all throughout the match.

Last year’s losing finalists dominated their Mindanao counterparts in the early goings as they took care of possession and got several chances at goal, but Region IX’s Jeorge Harrow kept his team in the game with spectacular goalkeeping in the first half.

Angelo Ouano, who was Central Visayas’s hat trick hero in their romp against Region III Monday, was able to put the Cebuanos on top 40 minutes into the game though.

The booters off Zamboanga Peninsula fought hard in the second half as they pushed Central Visayas around but they could not just pierce through Region VII’s sturdy backline.

Christian Agot, despite injuring his ankle yesterday that sent him to the hospital, comes back with a bang finding the back of the net in the 70th minute.

But what would have been Central Visayas’s assurance goal was scratched off by the books for offside.

With the clock ticking away and the win already in their pockets, Vincent Lovitos – who is also injured for Central Visayas – pinched in their squad’s second goal of the night deep into stoppage time.

“We have a bunch of injured players but I still have my faith in my team. Agot, who tore his muscle yesterday, did his best to help the team. And Lovitos, who is also injured, he even scored for us,” Central Visayas coach Glen Ramos told Rappler after the game.

“We just need a little rest but I know we can get back to top form.”
Central Visayas wrapped up their preliminary round campaign at 3-0 to earn themselves a ticket to the quarterfinals.

Today’s other results:

Calabarzon 4 – 2 CAR
Western Visayas 11 – 0 ARMM
Mimaropa 7 - 2 Northern Mindanao

– Rappler.com