IT was a great year 2016 for the University of St. La Salle Varsity Team Stingers after winning two consecutive titles in just a week span by sweeping University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Rams yesterday to successfully defend their crown in the 36th NOPSSCEA men’s football at the Panaad Park and Stadium.
The La Sallian side clinched their first win on Saturday in the best-of-3 finals with a 1-nil triumph over the Rams on Joshua Dotusme’s goal before finally taking down their rivals on Sunday, 4-nil behind the goals from Harunori Aoki, Nessi Ramos and Regie Cisneros.
For Stingers’ head Coach Norman Fegidero, they are thankful for the win. “I’m very happy that we started really well. We scored early and the team really played well,” he added.
It was recalled that last week, the La Sallians dethroned erstwhile champions San Carlos City FC, 1-0 in the U21 division finals of the 2016 Dynamic Football League 3rd Conference.
The win gave La Salle the right to represent Negros Occidental and defend the title in next year’s national finals in Iloilo City.
However, despite those wins, Fegidero still felt some concerns as his team’s performance displayed lack of championship experience due to absence of competitive tournament. “This one of the causes why the boys came short on decision making,” he said.
Meanwhile, ahead of the PFF-Smart national finals, Fegidero said that he will be getting some players from other teams to beef up the Negros Occidental side as it defend the national title.
