Baguio United falters vs Davao in PFF Cup

IT’S GOING to be a long way to the top for the Baguio United Football Club as it suffered its first setback in the ongoing Philippine Football Federation-Smart Club Championships group eliminations in Iloilo City.

A thundering 0-3 defeat came in the hands of the Goshenland backed football squad against the much experienced Columbia FC of Davao during the afternoon games in bracket B.

“Grabe ang init, sa umpisa pa lang ubos na agad kami,” said BUFC coach Aries Bocalan in a text message Tuesday afternoon.

Fresh from their triumph in the 1st Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan Football Cup, the squad had little time to gather themselves after a weeklong absence in the training field before flying to Iloilo for the three day competition.

“We were thinking that our team would play better, but in the first 20 minutes we fail because of the severe heat,” added Bocalan.

Baguio City is competing in group B featuring Smart Stallions FC of Iloilo, Columbia FC of Davao, and Pachanga of NCR where they are playing in Barotac Nuevo.

Bao Breakers FC of Iligan, Laos FC of Leyte, Smart San Beda FC of Rizal, bannered by Phil and James Younghusband and Teknika FC will be slugging it out in the Group A contests supported by Nature’s Spring, Mister Donut, Salon de Manila and Xavier University where they are slugging it in Cagayan De Oro City.

The group topnotcher and runners-up from each bracket after a single-round eliminations advance to the crossover semifinals scheduled August 16 and 17 at the University of Makati football field.

The home-and-away finals will be stated on August 20 and 23, possibly at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, organizers said.

But despite the loss, Bocalan promises to bounce back against Iloilo in their game Thursday afternoon.

“Against Iloilo we have to stop their quick passing and hold them at the back, we will attack only in our transition,” Bocalan quipped.

Pleased by the outcome this far of the inaugural PFF-Smart Club Championships, organizers aim to institutionalize the PFF-Smart Club Championships to promote the development of football clubs all over the country.