Game Tomorrow
Bago City pitch
3 p.m. USLS vs. WNC

BAGO CITY --- The reinforcements struck for the University of St. La Salle yesterday, putting the defending champions on the brink of a third straight crown in the NOFA Provincial Men's Open Championship here.

Goals from Sudanese import Izzeldin El Habbib and Ilonggo reinforcement Ruben Doctora propelled 10-man La Salle to a 2-0 victory over rival West Negros College at the start of their best-of-three title series at the Bago City pitch.

El-Habbib, a student at De La Salle University, unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard strike that took a nasty deflection on WNC Kim Relusio's hip, leaving goalkeeper Edmundo Mercado no chance.

The 21st minute goal galvanized the La Sallians, who continued to dominate midfield and kept West Negros on the backfoot for majority of the first half.

Menacing runs from Arnie Pasinabo and Rommel Ibañez's on the flanks and some slack West Negros defending allowed La Salle to create a number of opportunities with the best chance falling on Doctora, who, however, blew his close range weak shot that got caught between the legs of Mercado in the 37th minute.

Aly Borromeo almost doubled the lead in the 30 th minute but his 25-yard free-kick drifted just inches above the goal, after El-Habbib was fouled by Relusio.

Pasinabo prevailed in most of his tussles with WNC's left winger Emelio “Chippy” Caligdong, the reigning National Men's Open MVP, who was a shadow of his own self when he led NCR to the men's open crown early this year.

Caligdong, one of the country's top scorers in international competitions, hardly troubled La Salle's compact defense anchored by El Habbib's older brother, Badrelin, and Borromeo, although he had a hand on the sending off of Ziggy Tonog.

Tonog was booked for a reckless challenge on Caligdong in the 18th minute. Tonog was meted another yellow card and an automatic red by referee Catalino Valderrama Jr. for dissent in the 69th minute, forcing him out of Game 2 at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

After a first half of few chances, WNC coach Norman Fegidero inserted Alvin Valeroso for Selu Lozano at the break.

Spurred by Valeroso's entry, West Negros looked sharper and momentarily exposed cracks on the La Salle defense as the fleet-footed Valeroso brought the ball to dangerous areas.

But Joshua Fegidero, Raymund Juarez and Robert Cañedo's fine finishing touches deserted them and WNC was left to rue its missed chances.

Caligdong was also guilty as he over-hit a free kick, after an unmarked Juarez failed to get a clean strike on Valeroso's teasing cross inside the area in the 49th minute.

But just as they were about to unlock La Salle 's defense, the Wesnecans got caught on the counterattack.

Izzeldin El Habbib drifted to the left side outside the box and crossed to Pasinabo, who lured Mercado out of his area before releasing Doctora for a simple tap in the 51st minute to make it 2-0.

Doctora could have scored his second goal and La Salle 's third in the 65th minute by pouncing on another Pasinabo pass, but he was flagged offside.

“We are still adjusting our play since the other reinforcements played for the first time together with our players,” said La Salle coach Freddie Lazarito, who also attributed the win to the all-out support of brothers Leorey and Ricky Yanson.

Lazarito said his side will definitely feel the absence of Tonog on Wednesday.

“But we will be making the necessary adjustments. I'm sure they (WNC) will also make some changes,” he said.

Norman Fegidero said he expects more from his players in Game 2.

“Almost everyone was off. They did not show that they were committed to win,” he said. *CPT

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