LT Grassroots Mix Up in Kasibulan ‘13
KARLSTON S. LAPNITEN
Special to the Baguio Chronicle
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet --- Roughly 500 young footballers from this town of strawberries clashed in one of the country’s unique football tournaments at the Benguet State University football grounds last March 16 and 17.
Now on its 14th year, the Kasibulan Football Festival features a keeperless goal post smaller than half of the standard size and a four-man team playing against each other in eight draining minutes.
“Kasibulan designed to encourage more goals scored apart from training our players to become efficient strikers as well as defenders,” tournament organizer Frael Aquino said. Aquino is one of the region’s top football coaches.
According to him, the main purpose of the annual event is to promote the rapidly growing ground sport and produce grassroots champions that will be trained for future undertakings.
“Even our own Philippine Azkals has only a handful of pure breed Filipino players that’s why we are aiming to bring out future homegrown soccer players,” he explained.
In the much-anticipated finals of 11-12 Years Old Category, Benguet State University (BSU) Team B emerged the champion after scoring two unanswered goals against Balili Elementary School in the last game of the day.
Despite having Cordillera Administrative Regional Athletic Association (CARAA) top elementary booter in Balili Elementary School, the shorter BSU footballers banked on their excellent defense setup as star player Jazmhir Marquez sealed the game with a side goal with just less than two minutes left on the clock.
BSU Team A walked away with third place after losing a three-to-nil shootout against the champion. La Trinidad Central School finished fourth.
The 6-8 Years Old Category saw the Puguis Elementary School take the championship crown edging second placer Tacdian Catholic School. Longlong Elementary School and Full Bright Preparatory School settled for third and fourth place, respectively.
Meanwhile, La Trinidad’s southern institution Buyagan Elementary School edged opposite eastern Lubas Elementary School in the semi-finals of the 9-10 Years Old Category as Wangal Elementary School and Longlong Elementary School salvaged third and fourth place, repectively.
Aquino said the Kasibulan 2013 was participated by public and private elementary schools only from La Trinidad because there was not enough time and resources to pull an invitational due to the upcoming Strawberry Invitational Football Tournament happening this March 29 to 30.
“That’s for now but we are looking to organize a Kasibulan invitational in the future,” he declared.
BSU Soccer Club volunteered their expertise as officials of the two-day event backed by the municipal government and Balili Football Academy.*