MANILA, Philippines - LANOFA Football Club of Iligan was held to a 1-all draw by Real Marbel FC of Koronadal but still advanced to the Smart Club Championships semifinals after topping the all-Mindanao regionals recently at the Tionko football grounds in Davao City.
After the LANOFA booters had gone ahead on a goal by Mycon Bacotot in the 63rd minute, Real Marbel’s Rashid Akmad managed to salvage a standoff with an enterprising equalizer in the 83rd of the close and exciting match at the end of the four-team tournament.
With two wins and a draw, LANOFA emerged the all-Mindanao champion with seven points while Columbia FC of Davao, which capped its campaign with a 7-0 rout of Bric-a-Brac FC of Pagadian, took runner-up honors with a 2-1 win-loss record, equivalent to six points.
LANOFA and Columbia will represent Mindanao in the Smart Club semis of the competition organized by the Philippine Football Federation.
Striker Allan Rey Fernandez led the charge of the hosts by completing a hat trick (9th, 13th and 15th) while Marlon Demapanag (8th), Abdulsalam Mamadali (33rd) Michael Fernandez (65th) and Abder Petosakan (75th) were the other goal scorers in the lopsided match.
Real Marbel (1-1-1) wound up third while Bric-a-brac was last after absorbing three losses.
Opening today at the Central Philippines University football field in Jaro City, Iloilo is the Smart all-Visayas regionals featuring teams from Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Cebu and Leyte, with the top two squads also entering the semis.