Mindanao State University - General Santos City — By organizing just their second open tournament, the MSU-Legends United Football Club measured close to 100 teams across the region after booting up their OctoberFest 7-aside football tournament at University Football Field last October 28-29.
According to the event organizer, Louie Belascuain's Facebook post, the two-day event had 87 teams in all, split among 10 categories, geared up to compete for the title and surpass their previous participant pool from the Chancellor's Cup open tournament last July 2023, which had 52 teams in total.
Distance was not a barrier, as teams from North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and even a club from Davao Del Norte have signed up, which added to the event's grandeur.
“Chancellor’s Cup only lasted for one day, and there’s a limit in categories as well. In this tournament, we want to include also our grassroots program in football [for] ages 5-12 years old boys and girls because they are the future of Philippine football,” said Belascuain after conducting the stacked event.
When asked about the extent of widespread recognition of the tournament within the region, Belascuain wholeheartedly concurred. Its standing as a local sporting event had been cemented as a result of its constantly increasing fame, which attracted competitors and spectators from nearby towns and even farther away.
The event's opening day featured novice competitors in the 8-under mixed, 10-under mixed, 12-under mixed, boys 15-under, and boys and girls 17-under divisions. On the second day, men's and women's open, 30-up men, and 40-up men's football amateurs engaged in heated matches.
MSU alumni Belascuain commended the institution for its assistance in making the competition possible and expanding its growth. “He [Chancellor JD Usman Aragasi] allowed us to use the MSU Fatima football field. Credits also to PPD Director Sir Randy Asturias for the pitch preparation and to Sir Jerry Dela Cruz, Director of Admission Office, for his presence as the President of MSU Legends United Football Club.”
He then directed his remarks to the MSUan football players who took part in the activity, claiming that it would be a "big help" to them in assessing their skills and shortcomings in preparation for the forthcoming MSUSAA in December.
Following the tournament's success, Belascuain and his colleagues from MSU-Legends United Football Club intend to host an 11-aside football tourney, featuring the limelight on 17-under boys secondary and 23-under men college.
Following are the winners for each category:
8-under Mixed: Bahia FC (GenSan)
10-under Mixed: Kingstown FC (Davao Del Norte)
12-under Mixed: Conel FC (GenSan)
15-under Boys: DRFC Buayan (GenSan)
17-under Girls: Glan FC (Sarangani)
17-under Boys: Muzon Jrs (GenSan)
Men’s Open: Glan FC (Sarangani)
Women’s Open: Kiamba FC (Sarangani)
30-up Men: Real Marbel FC (Koronadal City)
40-up Men: MSU Legends United (GenSan)
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