NAPA Rovers fall to Philippines Stallion FC in int’l friendly

[June 11, 2017 – Laguna, Philippines] The Philippines’ Stallion Laguna FC handed the NAPA Rovers a 4-0 loss in the Guam club’s first-ever AFC-recognized international club friendly Saturday at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna, Philippines.

To watch the NAPA Rovers FC-Stallion Laguna FC fixture online, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KppiV_sSnQI

Stallion FC recently received its official club license to compete in the new, fully professional Philippines Football League from the Philippines Football Federation earlier this year after the team played consistently in the United Football League (UFL), according the PFF Web site. In the team’s current season in the PFL, Stallion FC is tied for points at the bottom of the league table with a 0-1-3 record after four matches, the PFL Web site states. Stallion Laguna next plays against Davao Aguilas FC (0-1-3) Jun. 18.

Before heading the Philippines, NAPA Rovers FC’s Jonahan Romero said in a news release, “This is a great experience for young players on Rovers to get a taste of what the next level is like. After being yanked by the Guam Football Association from the Asian Football Confederation qualification rounds, the Rovers see this match against the Stallions as a test of how Guam measures up regionally and as a way to instill excitement into their “young bloods” by giving them a taste of high-level competition. We are looking to come away with a good result and something for the club to continue to build on as we keep trying to take the level of soccer to a higher standard on Guam.”

Read a story by Ivan Saldajeno of Dugout Philippines below:

‘Laguna side blast Guamanian side Rovers in special friendly’

A 4-0 result happened on Saturday after all.

Stallion Laguna dropped four goals and blanked reigning [Budweiser] Soccer League champions Rovers in a special club friendly at the Biñan Football Stadium.

Yannick Tuason struck first for Laguna 15 minutes into the match, while Ryota Ishikawa made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute.

Nicolas Ferrer added one more to the goal count with a 65th minute strike, while Jhan-Jhan Melliza sealed the 4-0 shutout in the 80th minute.

“I’m happy with how Jhan-Jhan Melliza and Nicolas Ferrer are playing,” Coach Ernie Nierras commended the match’s last two scorers.

Nierras, whose Laguna side looks to pull off a late run to the PFL Final Four, further said, “As a whole. It’s working pretty good. We’re getting there.”

Led by national team mainstays Jonah Romero, Ian Mariano, and skipper Jason Cunliffe, who all once played for the former Philippine top tier league UFL, Rovers are using the two-game series as part of their preparations for their upcoming title defense in the Guamanian league.

Both clubs’ second teams are to face each other in another friendly on Sunday also at the said venue.

Story from http://www.dugout.ph/2017/06/laguna-blasts-guamanian-side-rovers.html?m=1