PFF U23 SUZUKI CUP: Redeem Team

By Neil Bravo
Davao City’s finest young football standouts will be carrying the cudgels for a city with a rich football tradition aiming to bring back some lost pride and glory.
A former Under-19 national player, a Meralco Spark and two De La Salle booters will be leading the Davao City’s own version of ‘Redeem Team’ in the coming 2013 PFF U-23 Suzuki Cup Mindanao Leg Finals on April 22-27 at home.
Forward Jomar Acedo, who played for the country’s U-19 squad, will be at the firing end of Davao’s side with UFL mainstay Amani Manuel Aguinaldo of the Meralco Sparks and brothers David Angelo and Derrico Gabriel Diamante of La Salle. The team will be captained by Dominador Tato IV, a former Azkals understudy who will be goalkeeping for the squad coached by Ramonito “Lalas” Carreon.
Defender Francis Jay Aguinaldo will be leading Davao’s line of defense.
The other members of the team are Renz Jay Napuran, Jestoni Felipe, Danilo Lascuna Jr., Mark Paul Dayanan, Dean Mark Galleto, Khadaffy Biruar, Ed Merill Walohan, Francis Jay Abalunan, Yoshiharu Koizumi, Imardino Polo, Nestor Bantilan, Jr., Jenerick Awing, Michael Pantojan, Michael Nehemiah Simms, Leo Abunas, Sean Clark Labang, Reymon Pareda and Nash Majini.
Rafael Vilela is managing the team with Alvic Troyo and Michael Jay Fernandez as assistants.
“We are prepared and we want to improve on our no. 3 finish,” said Carreon in yesterday’s press launch of the tournament in Davao City. “We will aim for the finals this time.”
Davao City suffered a stinging setback in the recent PFF-Smart National Club Championships after missing the Round of 16 with a lackadaisical stint in the group stage.