|
Priest powers Tuloy sa Don Bosco XI past San Beda in MPLFA tilt |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
 By Bong Pedralvez
MANILA - FR. Benedict Ratuwalu went on a scoring rampage to power Tuloy sa Don Bosco past a stunned San Beda squad, 7-2, last weekend in the 3rd AAVA-MPLFA Premier League at the Cuenca field inside Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.
Running rings around his bewildered defenders, the 38-year-old Indonesian priest completed a hat trick (three goals) in the first half then added two more markers in the second half for the team’s first win in two outings following a 1-5 loss to Laos FC two weeks ago.
Tournament director Ric Venus said it was the most number of the goals made in a game by a player in the three-year history of the fledgling league.
On the other hand, the San Beda booters, who were undermanned at the start of the match, dropped to third with a 1-2 win-loss slate in Group 2 of the Second Division of the event organized by the Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Las Pinas Football Association.
Virtually all of the goals of Fr. Ratuwalu, who once placed for the commercial club Kupang in the Indonesian National League, were highlight reels, beginning with his icebreaker in the 2nd minute.
From a crowded situation, he fired a curling 25-yard volley from the left flank that sailed over the hands of substitute San Beda goalie Lawrence Kwek.
With Tuloy controlling the midfield, his next attack came 13 minutes later, getting a cross pass to slot in a 20-footer from the right wing using his left foot.
Fr. Ratuwalu capped his scoring exploits in the first half with a flourish, zigzagging past two San Beda defenders to connect from 15 yards in the 25th, also from the right.
Fr. Andrew Lee, another priest also playing for the Catholic mission for street boys, made it 4-0 at halftime with a follow-up in the 31st during a goalmouth scramble.
San Beda showed signs of life in early in the second half, scoring back-to-back goals from Rommel Torres in the 46th and Norberto Manzano in the 49th minute, respectively.
But Fr. Ratuwalu came to the fore once more, nipping their opponents’ rally in the bud with a spectacular 40-yard marker from a direct free kick in the 62nd.
His fifth goal came on another breakaway in the 75th following a goal from Fr. Marianus in the 68th.
Laos FC clung to the Group 2 lead in Division 2 with its second win in a row after drubbing the all-Iranian MCU-STUR, 5-1, which remained winless in two starts.
Over in Division 1, Inter Manila battled to a riveting 3-all standoff with Al Fam FC to retain in lead in Group 2 with two wins and a draw after three games. Al Fam was in second with a victory and one draw.
Diliman FC retained top spot in Group 1 by routing winless Korean FC, 5-1, for its second in three games.
Socceroo FC debuted with a 1-0 triumph over Indian FC in Group 2 while the Group 1 game between Manila Soccer Academy and Ramrod ended in a scoreless draws.
 |
Survey
We need your help. We'd like to know more about the people who use our web site. Take our survey.
|
|
|
|
|
