PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Monday, August 29, 2011

Team Philippines loses four straight in 2011 Homeless World Cup

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MANILA, Philippines – After a hot streak, team Philippines hit a wall of football power countries in the 2011 Homeless World Cup.

The Philippines took a beating from three European powerhouse and a South American dynasty as it yielded to Poland, 1-10, and Scotland, 2-7, Thursday and relented to Portugal, 4-6, and Brazil, 1-9, Friday.

But even as the squad–beefed up by eight, underprivileged yet talented kids from around the Philippines–failed to advance to the Homeless World Cup final, they already achieved more than what they did last year.

Last year’s team Philippines – a different cast from this year – bagged the Host Cup for a 25^th place finish in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.

This year in Paris, the Filipinos have the opportunity to place as high as 17^th or even just the 24^th place in the City Cup as they clash with Italy and six other countries in the annual tournament intended to fight poverty through football.

Co-skipper Janrick Soriano (Negros Occidental) and Jeffrey Guelas (Manila) lead the squad, who came to be known as the crowd darlings among the 48 participating countries as the boys were cheered on by hundreds of Filipinos at the event Arena shadowed by the Eiffel Tower.

Berth Anthony Sienes (Manila Boys Town), Jeffrey De Castro (Cainta, Rizal), Ricardo Padilla Jr. (Pangasinan), Aljohn Matulac (Estancia, Iloilo), John “Putot” Celiz (Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo) and Michael Rojo (Negros Occidental) complete the Homeless World Cup team, mentored by coach Rudy Del Rosario.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Philippines shines anew against Croatia in the 2011 Homeless World Cup

There is no stopping the Philippine Homeless World Cup team.

The hardworking Philippine side fueled its hot streak in the 2011 Homeless World Cup as the Filipinos stunned Croatia, 8-5, Wednesday in the eight-day street soccer meet in the beautiful city of Paris in France.

Coming off a respectable loss against football powerhouse Netherlands, 2-5, the Filipinos came out guns ablaze and finished off the Croatians with their slick passing and clinical finishing in the event Arena at Champ de Mars, with the Eiffel Tower on the background.

Skipper Janrick Soriano, a native of Negros Occidental and one of the most experienced among the boys, completed his hatrick in the first half and netted two more, while Barotac Nuevo’s John—fondly known as Putot—Celis score two goals, even as co-captain Jeffrey Guelas from Manila added one.

The Philippines, mentored by former national team member Rudy Del Rosario, came out strong and finished even stronger and sent the Croatians clueless on how to contain’s the Filipinos lightning-quick attacking.

The Philippines will face Poland Thursday, and only those who will advance further will get a chance to fight for the Homeless World Cup title (1st to 8th position).

The rest will contest the other cups like Dignitary Cup (9th to 16th), City Cup (17th-24th), Host Cup (25th to 32nd), Community Cup (33rd to 40th) and INSP Networking Trophy (41st to 48th).

The 48 participating countries were divided into two sections after the first stage, with the top three in each group progressing to section one.

Jeffrey De Castro from Cainta , Ricardo Padilla from Pangasinan, Aljhonn Loui Matulac from Estancia in Iloilo, Bert Anthony Sienes from Boystown in Manila, and Michael Rojo also from Talisay City in Bacolod round up the squad, which was formed off of a nationwide search, buoyed only by donations and sponsorships they garnered in the past months.

Team Philippines advances to next stage of Homeless World Cup

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is etching its name in the world of football anew – but this time, not in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers or the AFF Suzuki Cup.

Team Philippines crashed into the second group stage, along with 23 other winning teams, in the 2011 Homeless World Cup Wednesday as the Filipinos bundled out several opponents and blazed hot against Croatia in the eight-day street football meet at Champs de Mars in Paris, France.

The Filipinos held on to a halftime edge to crush Croatia, 8-5, to kick off another round of the group stages Wednesday under shadow of the breathtaking Eiffel Tower shading off the event Arena.

The 48 participating countries were divided into two sections after the first stage, with the top three in each group progressing to section one.

Only those who will advance further will get a chance to nab the Homeless World Cup title (1st to 8th position), while the rest will contest the other cups like Dignitary Cp (9th to 16th), City Cup (17th-24th), Host Cup (25th to 32nd), Community Cup (33rd to 40th) and INSP Networking Trophy (41st to 48th).

Led by Negrense skipper Janrick Soriano and Manileno co-captain Jeffrey Guelas, the Philippines earlier conquered taller opponents like Ghana, United States and Switzerland and earned second spot in Group H behind football powerhouse Netherlands after three days of non-stop football action.

With eight kids handpicked from all over the country, the Filipinos edged the Ghanians 3-2, and the Americans, 4-3, then towered over the Swiss, 8-2.

The Philippines, coached by former national team member Rudy Del Rosario, though fell into the hands of a heftier Netherlands, 2-5, but had already secured its ticket to the next round.

Jeffrey De Castro from Cainta, John “Potot” Celiz, the diminutive striker from Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo, Ricardo Padilla from Pangasinan, Aljhonn Loui Matulac from Estancia in Iloilo, Bert Anthony Sienes who learned to play football in Boystown Manila, completed the team which trooped to the City of Light last Friday buoyed only by donations and sponsorships they garnered in the past months.

The team, each of whom had to battle through poverty and other problems, also met with national team manager Dan Palami, who was coincidentally conducting business in Europe.

“Tonight, God had a funny way of reminding me to be thankful of the blessings he has given me. I promised to take the Homeless World Cup team to dinner in a restaurant here in Paris, so dressed smartly in their signature shirts and jackets we went to the place they had all been wanting to go to…. KFC. Next stop… Starbucks,” posted Palami in his Facebook account.

The Homeless World Cup, wherein the Philippines ranked 25 out of 55 countries last year, is an annual tournament for poor football players aiming to change lives through every kick and every goal.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

AZKAL TEAM CAPTAIN

Born Alexander Charles Luis Borromeo on 28 June, 1983 in San Francisco, California, the 6’1" 190-pound Aly is an American born Azkal who plays for Kaya F.C.

The Philippine Azkals' captain (Jersey No. 11) is one of the oldest members of the team by tenure and one of the most aggressive players among the Azkals. Aly has suited up for the U-19 team, La Salle Greenhills, De La Salle University, Skyline College, Kaya FC and Global Smartmatic. He has played in all positions and was actually a goalkeeper until second year high school. Nothing’s prepared him though for his accidental “bump" to captaincy in 2004. He previously played as goalkeeper (GK) but eventually became a significant player playing as midfield and forward. He initially represented the Philippines at U19 Level in the course of the 2000 AFC Youth Championship qualifiers and eventually became a strong member of the Azkals. He has furthermore represented the Philippines at under-23 level. He captained the Philippines under-23 team in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games on home land and was converted to a central defender.

The Azkals’ captain is a versatile central back who is often deployed as a defensive midfielder and striker. He as well scored significant goals in the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup with his equalizer versus Cambodia and East Timor.

Player Info:
Player Name: Aly Borromeo
Jersey No.: 11
Position: Defender (2DF) (Captain)
DoB: 28 June 1983
F.C.: Kaya F.C.