Shrugging of fatigue and the sweltering heat, Negros Occidental, represented by San Carlos City players, overcame Iloilo twice yesterday to claim the elementary boys' football crown of the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet at the Paglaum pitch.

Two quick second half goals from John Elton De Arce and Jose Miguel Valmayor gave Negros Occidental --- composed of regional Palaro rookies --- a well-deserved 2-1 victory in the winner-take-all match.

The title duel was delayed for close to an hour because Victoriano Tirol, the Department of Education regional director, and the two coaches asked for a change in the line-up of the officiating officials, forcing match commissioner Leo Dayot to serve as referee for the clash.

THIRD SHOWDOWN

It was actually the third showdown for both squads, after Iloilo pulled off a 2-1 win in the elimination round, before the Negrenses exacted revenge yesterday morning, thanks to Michael Continedo, who scored the marginal goal in a 1-0 win.

After seeing the high school boys' team get drubbed by Iloilo, 0-3, the Negrenses got enough motivation to formally end the Ilonggos' long reign in the elementary category.

But it was the Ilonggos who created the game's first chance when John Gerald Clemente shot straight into Michael Yuvencio in the 15th minute.

The San Carlos booters finally opened up the Iloilo defense four minutes later when Contenido was fouled just outside the box. Diomar Carusagay's swerving left-footed strike, however, was denied by the upright from 20 yards out. Negros started to enjoy long spells of possession but poor finishing prevented them from going ahead in the 22nd minute when Valmayor dispossessed an Iloilo defender at a dangerous area only to rifle his delicate chip sailed over the bar.

BREAKTHROUGH

Both teams were starting to show signs of fatigue but the Negrenses dug deep and finally scored the breakthrough 18 minutes into the second half, moments after Valmayor spurned another great chance on a one-on-one situation.

Iloilo failed to clear their line in the ensuing corner kick and Nelson Ybañez cross to the far post was met by De Arce, who scored with a volley from close-range, after Ilonggo keeper John Mark Golez was caught out of position.

Valmayor, who studies at the University of St. La Salle-IS, doubled the lead two minutes later, pouncing on De Arce's brilliant through ball to slot the ball past Golez, sending a portion of the stadium into a frenzy.

Iloilo were handed a lifeline by a 54th-minute goal off a corner kick, but San Carlos, bannered by Sta. Rita College standouts, grimly hung on until the final whistle.

"We thank God for this victory. We did not expect this (win)" coach Jerome Araujo, also a first-timer in the regional Palaro, told the DAILY STAR.

"I have to give credit to the boys. They played hard and were more disciplined," he added. *CPT

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