Five former members of the Philippine Team will be at the forefront of the Negros Occidental campaign in the PFF-National Men's Open Football Championships set from Feb. 21-26 in Iloilo City and Barotac-Nuevo town.

Now more familiar to Negrense football fans, because of their stint in the Southeast Asian Games in Bacolod City, San Carlos-born Arnie Pasinabo and Jerome Orcullo have been included in the roster unveiled by Negros head coach Freddie Lazarito yesterday.

Also joining the team are ex-RP XI mainstays Ali Bernard Rojas, veteran striker Reydric Viliran and Ziggy Tonog. Pasinabo, Rojas and Tonog helped power Negros to a sweep in the regional eliminations in Dumaguete City

Dumaguete-based Viliran, who was part of the champion Negros squad in 2002, and Orcullo were tapped to reinforce the Negros squad, along with Cebu defender Heink Ruiz.

"We have a strong team and building our chemistry. But we still can't say of our chances yet since we have not seen the other teams play," said Lazarito, who is hoping to duplicate the feat of the 2002 NOFA XI that won the national title in Bacolod City.

But Lazarito, who coaches the University of St. La Salle XI, has picked defending champion NCR and Iloilo as title contenders.

NCR will be led by RP Team standouts Emelio Caligdong and Ali Borromeo --- heroes of the Philippines' 4-2 conquest of Cambodia before a partisan crowd of 20,000 at the Panaad Stadium.

Iloilo, on the other hand, will not only enjoy hometown support but will boast of a formidable line-up that includes Ruben Doctora Jr., veterans Richmond Braga, SEA Games veteran Bervic Italia, Jezurel Tonog and Ardesel Juarez.

Rolando Ian Treyes, John Peter Ignalaga and teenager Jason Panhay will play midfield, while the defensive line will be composed of Michael Benedicto, Carlos Bolo, Tonog, West Negros College's Joel Ballo-Allo and Simon Hulleza.

Pasinabo and Rojas alternate as strikers and midfielders. Fredrick Jan Serios, Floriano Pasilan Jr. and Viliran will spearhead the attack up front. Archie Bayquin, the best goalkeeper in the NOFA provincial eliminations, is expected to be the first-choice keeper for Negros with La Salle teammate Henderson Campo as reliever. *CPT

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