Warm Cebu welcome: (Azkals meet and greet Cebuano fans in Aboitiz Cup Opening)

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of Cebuano football fans gave the Philippine Azkals a warm welcome, giving a distinct flavor of fun and excitement to the formal opening of the 15th Abotiz Cup yesterday.

The intermittent rains did not dampen the spirit of the 4,000 plus soccer fanatics to flock to the Aboitiz Sports Field in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City where the elite national players graced the kick-off salvo of the longest and best-run football tournament in this part of the country.

Despite the weather condition and the muddy field, the celebrated Azkals led by head coach Michael Weiss and the popular Younghusband brothers Phil and James gladly went down the bus to hobnob not only with the participants, but also with the spectators that eagerly waited for their arrival.

Energized by the fervent cheers of their local supporters, the Azkals gamely pose for photo ops and sign autographs for their fans.

Augusto “Sonny” Carpio III of Aboitiz said this is the first time in Abotiz Cup history that such huge crowd turned up for the opening ceremony.

"This is amazing. Although this may be because of the Azkals, but I also attribute this to the new scheme of the CFA (Cebu Football Association)," Carpio said.

The Azkals are in town gearing up for their highly-anticipated "Face Off" with the Singapore Lions in the first ever international friendly football match in the Queen City of the South scheduled on November 15 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

On behalf of the Azkals, team captain Emelio "Chiffey" Caligdong promised the Cebuanos of one good fight even though it's a tall order for them with the Singaporeans being a three-time AFF Suzuki Cup champion.

"We will play our best. We promise to give it a 101 percent and we will give a good fight, something that the Cebuanos and our fans all over the country should look forward to," Caligdong said.

Caligdong added that they have trained hard for this landmark event in Cebu football and that they're in top shape and ready to plunge into action against the visiting Lions from Singapore.

Against Singapore, the Azkals will parade the same lineup that dominated the Peace Cup last month in Manila.

The match also serves as the Azkals' final tuneup before they compete in the prestigious AFF Suzuki Cup against host Thailand on November 24 in Bangkok.