ILOILO CITY --- With its team already assured of a semifinal berth, the Negros Occidental coaching staff tinkered with its line-up and nearly paid dearly for the move.

But thanks to two brilliant second half goals by Arnie Pasinabo, the Negrenses kept their unbeaten record intact with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Northern Cotabato yesterday in the PFF-National Men's Open Football Championships at the slippery La Paz pitch here.

More importantly, the win avoided a semifinal confrontation with titleholders NCR but nevertheless, the Negrenses face a tall order of beating host Team Biscocho House-Iloilo for a place in the finals tomorrow.

NCR held off Iloilo, 1-0, with Barotac Nuevo-born standout Ian Araneta coming up with a decisive header for the winning goal in 70th minute at the Sta. Barbara pitch.

A defensive meltdown allowed North Cotabato to break the ice in the 20th minute when an unmarked Nicolas Sempesaw calmly beat Negros keeper Archie Bayquin from the left side, after Dexter Versario failed to clear his line.

Negros assistant coach Ramon Janeo, who called the shots for Freddie Lazarito, who was scouting the NCR-Iloilo game, said he wanted to rest his key players for the semifinals.

Negros, however, came out with renewed confidence in the final half and Pasinabo, who played forward to give striker Reydric Viliran much-needed rest heading into the semis, waltzed through three defenders, before striking the ball with his left-foot just outside the box for the equalizer in the 46th minute.

His brilliant glancing header from a Jason Panhay's teasing cross eight minutes later proved to be the decisive goal in the rain-marred match.

"After the SEA Games, I felt my game had become very inconsistent. But the goals I scored today are enough to build up my confidence going into the semifinals," said Pasinabo, who came tantalizing close to posting his first hat trick 20 minutes from time after he cut loose anew inside the box only to see his shot go inches above the bar. *CPT

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