A talented mix of current and former University of St. La Salle standouts will don the Negros Occidental Football Association colors in the Visayas qualifying tournament of the Philippine Football Federation National Men's Senior Championship that takes centerstage at the Silliman University pitch on Jan. 27 in Dumaguete City.

Arnie Pasinabo, who saw action for the Philippine men's football team during the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, and former RP XI booters Ziggy Tonog and Bernard Rojas are expected to spearhead NOFA's campaign in the regional event.

Both Pasinabo and Rojas will play as midfielders-strikers, while the 33-year-old Tonog will be part of Negros' defense, NOFA coach Freddie Lazarito told the DAILY STAR.

La Salle defeated arch-rivals West Negros College, 2-0, in the finals of the men's open division of the NOFA Provincial Football Championships in Bago City in September last year to obtain the right to represent Negros in the regional tournament.

Dexter Versario, who was in the RP training pool for the biennial meet, will be a member of NOFA's defense as well as Carlos Bolo, Michael Benedicto, Joel Ballo-allo, Simon Hulleza and William Valencia.

Archie Bayquin, the Most Valuable Player of the NOFA provincial event, will be the starting goalkeeper of the Negrenses, while Henderson Campo will be his substitute.

The strikers of the squad are Fredrick Serios and Floriano Pasilan, while Jason Costanilla and Roladno Treyes will be midfielders-strikers. Playing in the midfield will be Jayson Panhay, Yano Takahiro, John Ignalaga, Miguel Gonzales and Steven Ferraris.

NOFA will take on Cebu FA and Oriental Negros FA for the right to represent Visayas in the national finals in Iloilo next month.

Negros finished second in the national tilt last year after bowing to the Philippine Navy in a penalty shootout in Cagayan de Oro City.*CIT

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