La Salle XI, FEU edge rivals, set title clash

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle-Flying V nipped last year’s UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas-Metroil, 1-0, at the Nuvali Field in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last Sunday to advance to the finals of the 2012 IPPCA Football Pre-Season Cup against Far Eastern U.

The Tams and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals fought to a scoreless draw in the other semifinal duel but the former prevailed in the penalty shootout to gain a crack at the crown in the tournament sponsored by Meralco, Nuvali, Nature’s  Spring,  Molten, N20 Gastropub, Boysen Paints, BDO, Topcoms/StarSports Korea, Bacchus, CDO San Marino Corned Tuna and Pingping Lechon.

The Green Archers, who snatched the last Final Four berth with an almost improbable 8-0 victory over the Perpetual Altas last Wednesday, and the Tamaraws dispute the title on Sunday, also at the Nuvali Field.

The two-month long tournament is bankrolled by IPPCA members Chemrez Technologies Inc., Eastern Petroleum Corp., Filpride/USA88, Seaoil Philippines Inc., Flying V, Oilink, Unioil, International Engineer Phils., Inc., Filoil Energy Co., City Oil, Metro Oil Subic, LPGMA, Omni Petroleum Corp., Trans Overseas Industrial Corp. and CIIS.

Gio Diamante delivered the winning goal for La Salle-Flying V on the 77th minute with UST failing to score in several tries in the final 13 minutes.

FEU and EAC went into penalty play after a scoreless draw in 120 minutes of regulation.

Eric Giganto finally broke a 3-3 standoff after six penalty goals, while goalkeeper Patrick Rallos made the winning save for FEU.

The individual awardees for the day were Dexter Jae Chio of FEU (Flying V Best Defender); Jesus Melliza, also of FEU (Seaoil Best Striker), Bob Suclatan of EAC( Unioil Best Midfielder), Florencio Balderic of EAC (Metroil Best Goalkeeper) and DLSU (Eastern Petroleum Fair Play Team).