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Phil and James Younghusband set teams for Clear Dream Match III

The squads for the third Clear Dream Match have been chosen, and Phil and James Younghusband are raring to go at each other once again with two teams brimming with quality.

The two brothers engaged in a draft party on Wednesday night in the Hyve in BGC. They chose and drew players from a pool created by online fan voting (from the top 50 UFL players based on statistics the pool was whittled down to 30) and via a nationwide search for young talents from Davao, Iloilo, Cebu, and Metro Manila.

First the brothers chose one amateur player each from the top six that emerged out of the Clear-Manchester United Soccer School Camp. Phil nabbed Ateneo's Mikko Mabanag, who will play in his third CDM, while James got UP Maroon Booter Daniel Gadia.

Then the brothers selected their pro teammates in a five-round draft. Phil had the first pick since he won the online voting for the honor, and took veteran Azkal midfielder Chris Greatwich from Kaya. James countered with a defensive pick, grabbing Loyola teammate Joaco Cañas, a centerback.

Another Spark defender, Sam Bonney, was drafted by Phil in the second round, while James went with Simon Greatwich, yet another Spark.

In the third round Phil chose the UFL's leading scorer, Global's Mark Hartmann, who until the 2013 league was a Spark as well. James countered with Kaya's OJ Porteria.

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The fourth round was a mild surprise for team Phil as the Azkal's all-time leading striker picked Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr's veteran holding mid, Anto Gonzales, who is also an ex-Spark. The brothers displayed a fondness for familiarity, since at this point all but two of the first seven picks were current or former Loyola players.

James' fourth round choice was Kaya's Anton Del Rosario.

Phil grabbed Loyola's Ghanaian goalie Baba Sampana with his final selection while James chose Global's Misagh Bahadoran.

The two then engaged in a random draw for the rest of the players from the players pool. These guys were categorized by position into several pots filled with tiny soccer balls that contained names. Phil and James could pluck from any pot. Had the player picked already been selected, the drafter could re-draw.

In this phase of the draft Phil lucked out with striker Balot Doctora, who has won the favor of Azkals coach Thomas Dooley in recent friendlies. Phil also drew Azkals keeper Patrick Deyto with his final selection. Kenshiro Daniels will also be in his squad.

James was also fortunate to get some veteran Azkals in the blind draw, namely Green Archers United Globe's Chieffy Caligdong, Jeff Christiaens, and Ed Sacapaño. Lee Joo Young, a speedy Korean winger with Loyola, was also drawn by James.

The last bunch of amateurs were also apportioned into the teams via blind draw. (They had their own pot.) Phil picked up Davaoeños Yoshiharu Koizumi and Jed Diamante, the younger brother of DLSU's Gio and Gelo. Phil also wound up with Ateneo high school's Jarvey Gayoso, the son of former Ateneo hoops star Jayvee. DLSU Green Archers coach Hans Smit says he has seen Gayoso since he was ten years old (he is now reportedly about sixteen) and says he thinks he may have a national team future.

James then got UP's Patxi Santos, a sophomore wing back out of PAREF-Southridge.

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In the final phase of the evening's draft, the Wild Card round, James selected two more players that could be from outside the pool of players from the fan voting. With his first pick he took Global's Sudanese sniper Izo Elhabbib and another Global star, Azkal Daisuke Sato.

Phil only had one pick in this section and made an excellent choice with Azkal right back Simone Rota. James, as the defending champ, got the extra pick.

There will be one more additional choice for the teams: the assignment of the two Manchester United legends who will grace the match, namely Paul Scholes and Andy Cole. Fans can vote on www.cleardreammatch.com.ph to help decide which Red Devil goes into which team. This voting will go on until May 25.

The two sides are extraordinarily well-matched, but with the selection of Chris Greatwich and Anto Gonzales, Phil obviously wants a well-organized, experienced midfield that can orchestrate attacks well and help stymie Team James' offense.

Both teams have proven goalies in Deyto (for Phil) and Roland Sadia for James. The choice of Elhabbib by James means his side will also have an elite striker to match Phil on the other side of the park.

There were co-captains who were pre-determined for the sides, and it is assumed they will also play. James' assistant will be PLDT Home Fibr's Nate Burkey while Phil will rely on Ceres' Carlie De Murga.

The third Clear Dream Match will take place on June 7 in a venue that has yet to be announced. Tickets are already on sale at www.smtickets.com. Many hope it will be at Rizal Memorial, which should have its FIFA 2 Star artificial grass pitch installed by then. The two previous CDMs were held in University of Makati under heavy downpours, with Phil winning 5-1 in 2012 and his brother avenging that defeat via a 4-1 score last year.

See both squad lists here.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.