JARO, Iloilo City—If the first finals game of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Suzuki Under-23 National Cup Finals between Bacolod and Iloilo is any indication, then we’re headed for a fiery windup.
The two neighboring rivals battled through full time and two extension periods that at times seemed more like a wrestling match. But after the smoke had settled, Bacolod left for Negros with a 3-1 win at the Central Philippines University pitch.
The marginal goal, remarkably, came from Joven Bedic, the Barotac Nuevo native who is playing for West Negros University and Norman Fegidero Jr., who is also Bacolod’s head coach.
Brutally knocked down several times over, Bedic, taunted by the home crowd, blasted a heater at the ninth minute of the first extension period from 25 yards out that Iloilo substitute goalkeeper German Doronilla was unable to punch out.
Bacolod took the lead in the 13th minute when striker Aldrin Dolino’s blast from outside the box managed to skip right in at the far post as Iloilo ’keeper Wilson Muñoz looked helplessly away.
And Muñoz will watch helplessly from the bench in the Bacolod leg as he was given an automatic red card by referee Grant Rojas when he rushed out of the box to bat away Bedic’s shot.
Iloilo managed to draw level in the 54th minute when midfielder Glester Sobremisana converted a penalty shot after a handball by Bacolod defender Janrick Soriano.
Following Bedic’s goal in extension, Dolino, also repeatedly knocked down by the rugged defense of Iloilo, scored his sixth goal of the tournament at the eighth minute of the second extension period.
Iloilo, missing Francis Gustilo and Neckson Leonora, activated Nicholas Leonora who last played in the Visayas regionals, and temporarily sent injured midfielder Shirmar Felongco to stem the tide. But Bacolod broke Iloilo in extension with Bedic’s goal.
“It was a big win for us. A big away win,” said Fegidero. “We wanted to score more goals and this is crucial to us defending our home field in Panaad.”
“When Bedic temporarily went out, I told him, ‘Bumalik ka. Bumalik ka.’ And he made the difference with that goal.”
