Abra plays futsal
It is the first time of Abra to field athletes in Futsal. This is what Abra Futsal Team Coach Maricar R. Suson disclosed after Abra’s sorry loss to Kalinga, 12-0, on February 4 at the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) Gymnasium in Lagangilang, Abra as the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet 2018 continues.
Suson further revealed that the Abra Futsal Team had less than 2 months of intensive training under Trainor Alejandro Briones at the ASIST Gym in preparation for the CARAA Meet 2018. The Abra Futsal Team is composed of Darilyn Acosta, Maria Trinidad Badili, Julie Ann Barila, Melpes Joy Blaza, Emmalyn Berbano, Chellamea Claor, Angeline Cristal Corpuz, Janella Kay Ducayag, Helga Nadine Lazo, Berna Lintag, Andrea Claire Pascual, and Jedah Pinlac.
Futzal is just like football but an indoor game with 20-minute halves of play according to Mr. Michael Vasquez. He further explained that each team is composed of 12 players, 5 of them are fielded while the 7 others serve as substitutes. According to Vasquez, the game was introduced to the CARAA in the 2013 Meet in Benguet.
For the CARAA Meet 2018, the tournament manager of Futsal is Valdazan E. Capuyan (Baguio) and the other officiating officials are: Samuel Mendoza (Benguet), Ghana Wanson (Benguet), Mark Basatan (Baguio) Helen Erpelo (Baguio), Boone Pangda (Abra), Acer Sequerra (Abra), and Michael Vasquez (Abra).
In the opening games last Sunday, Mt. Province kicked Abra, 6-0, while Kalinga inched Apayao, 2-1. On Monday, Baguio clobbered Mt. Province, 9-2 and Benguet dumped Kalinga, 9-1. This morning, Apayao eliminated Mt. Province, 5-3, Kalinga humbled Abra, 12-0, and in the afternoon, Benguet inched Baguio, 4-3, which gave the former the twice-to-beat advantage during the finals game. Tomorrow morning, Apayao and Kalinga will kick it out and the winner will face Baguio in the afternoon to determine who will face Benguet in the final game on Thursday at 9 o’clock. All Futsal games are being held at the ASIST Gymnasium in Lagangilang, Abra.
-Elizier B. Lazo