UC-ERCO all set for PFF-Smart bootfest

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Cebu-ERCO Bro Nationals, Cebu’s representative to the group staging of this year’s PFF-Smart National Club Championship, is now ready to take the challenge on September 19-21 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Engr. Rodney Orale, CFA Board member and one of the team owners of UC-ERCO BRO, just hope that the upcoming event will not be moved anymore since it will affect their budget in preparation for the three-day tilt.

The Bro Nationals have been preparing for the tournament for two months now. They are most thankful to Mayor Mike Rama for letting them use the CCSC at night for free so they can be at ease with the playing venue already.

Longtime Azkal player Ian Araneta and another player from NCR in Martin Ferrer plus five foreign booters are beefing up UC-ERCO's lineup.         

UC-ERCO-BRO, which is under group B, will be going up against Davao del Norte FA, which topped the cluster 4 action, and Dipolog FC, the second-ranked team in the Mindanao battle.

Unlike Mindanao, NCR and Luzon, Visayas do not have a cluster action anymore.

For this year’s PFF-Smart tiff, there are a total of eight clusters, with the top squads moving up to the group qualifiers.

The top team in all five groups will proceed to the national groupings along with the top three squads in the United Football League’s last edition - Kaya, Meralco, and Global.

The national groupings will be split into two groups, with the top two squads playing in the crossover semifinals. The winners will then clash for the national championship and the P200,000 cash prize that goes along with it on November 9 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. — (FREEMAN)