The Year In Sports: TPF Pinoy Football Awards 2013
(Editor's note: The Yahoo! Philippines Sports team looks back at 2013's memorable moments in sports with a series of year-end articles on the topics and events that had the biggest impact on our readers.)
Player of the Year: Stephan Schrock. Schrocky remains the Gold Standard for what an Azkal can be. In 2013 he helped secure passage to the Challenge Cup with a goal against Cambodia in the 8-0 rout. He also had a hand in one of Phil Younghusband's strikes. In the next game againt Turkmenistan his fingerprints were also in the only goal of the match when he offloaded to Dennis Cagara who found Phil for the finish.
It was more good stuff from Schrock in the Peace Cup, when, after a stunning loss to Chinese Taipei, the Azkals topped Pakistan 3-1. The Eintracht Frankfurt man assisted on Patrick Reichelt's first-half equalizer and then converted Reichelt's assist later on for a goal of his own.
Schrock made history by likely being the second Southeast Asian player to score in the Europa League, the second-tier European club cup, when he found the net for Frankfurt against Apoel Nicosia earlier this month. Fandi Ahmad of Singapore, who played in Holland for Groningen in the '80s, is believed to be the first.
Schrock's boundless energy, startling speed, terrific touch and vision in his passing, and dagger-like finishing are a huge boost to the side whenever he is on the park. He never seems to take a day off and is the squad's most consistent performer.
ALSO READ: The year in Sports: In Memoriam 2013.
With apologies to Teerasil Dangda, I believe Schrock is ASEAN's best player.
Honorable Mention: With six International strikes for the Philippines in 2013, Phil, who now has 34 International goals, deserves some acclaim. He also led Loyola to its first piece of significant silverware, the 2013 UFL Cup, with plenty of strikes and a superb work rate.
Coach of the Year: Ali Rojas Go. The former national team standout guided Ceres to a second SMART PFF national title when they topped Global over two legs 3-1 a few days ago.
Go was also in charge when Ceres' U23 team defeated Davao 1-0 for the Suzuki U23 national title, and assisted Nene Lazarito when the Bacolod club won the 2012-2013 crown last February.
The true worth of a coach is when he can do more with less, and that must be said for Go. Ceres typically started with five or six homegrown players like Jay Baguioro, Jayson Panhay, and former Azkal Louie Casas. All quality guys but without the International pedigree of Global's thoroughbreds. Ceres also revived the careers of youngsters who couldn't crack the starting lineups in other sides. Angelo Marasigan hardly played in Pasargad and was unwanted by Loyola. With Ceres, he was a vital cog in the midfield. Ditto for Younousse Yaogo, who fled Pasargad for Bacolod.
“He has a lot of tactical ideas during the game” says Casas. “He likes to change the formation of the team. If we are in attack mode he can change to 3-5-2. He's a good coach on and and off the pitch.”
ALSO READ: 13 Filipino athletes who excelled in 2013
Honorable Mentions:
Noel Marcaida – The Pachanga-Diliman boss took over from Bob Salvacion and led PD to a solid mid-table finish in the league. Then in the Cup he guided the Baby Boys to a final berth where they gave Loyola fits, eventually going down 3-2.
The Masbateño is known for his attention to detail and calm demeanor. He has also been crucial in the development of goalie Ronilo Vallies Bayan, who starred in the U19 NT's campaign in the AFC qualifiers in Surabaya, Jakarta. Now playing for Benilde in the NCAA, Bayan is enthusiastic about Marcaida's infuence on his game.
“Ang laki ng improvement ko sa kanya” he offers.
(NOTE: Marcaida also coached me for seven sessions in the Philippine Goalkeeping Academy. I still suck, so it just proves that there is only so much a coach can do.)
Jay-pee Merida – The former Ateneo and Loyola defender took over from his uncle Ompong and steered the Blue Booters to the Season 75 Men's Seniors title despite not having a prolific striker. He relied on an organized defense and keeper Nick O'Donnell.
Let Dimzon – The coach of the FEU Women's team presided over a Lady Tams squad that dominated UAAP Season 75, demolishing DLSU over two games in the finals. They played a lovely brand of short-passing Football that mirrored that of their male counterparts. Had she brought FEU to a Pinay Fooyball League title (UST's ladies won that) she would be a candidate for COTY.
Breakout Player of the Year: Amani Aguinaldo. The defender from Davao didn't have the best start to the year since he was part of the FEU team that missed the UAAP finals, losing to UP in three games. But since then he has gained plenty of experience with Global and got a full international cap for the Azkals in the friendly loss on the road to Indonesia.
“Amani can play at a very high level” says U23 and Global consultant Leigh Manson.
For a teenager, Aguinaldo's physique is astonishingly developed, and he has the skills and composure to handle the ball in the back line without panicking.
Honorable Mentions: Paolo Bugas – the FEU midfield maestro from Nabunturan, Compostela Valley is a big reason why FEU swept the first round of Season 76. He also performed with distinction coming off the bench for Loyola in the Singapore Cup. Jimmy Vergara, Jr. - The Air Force rookie scored not one, but two game winning extra-time goals in the Airmen's semifinal run in the 2013 UFL Cup. Nathan Alquiros – scored a passel of goals for Stallion in the UFL league and continues to bring it for DLSU in the UAAP. Jhan Jhan Melliza – scored 18 goals in UAAP Season 75 to lead the league, and prodded in more for Green Archers in the league and Cup. Still hoofing them in in Season 76.
Comeback Player of the Year: Ariel Zerrudo. Pachanga-Diliman's former UP sniper turned the clock back to his halycon days when he was a UAAP MVP, striking four times in the last three games of the UFL Cup, including two in the final. The left-footed marksman, who is around 30 years old, has recovered the scoring touch that got him an Azkals selection way back in 2007.
Honorable Mention: Fitch Arboleda. The UE striker broke his clavicle in the first game of Season 75 but roared back in Season 76 with five strikes before hurting his hamstring.
Most Underrated Player of the Year: Patrick Delon Yao. The Global wingback has been a stellar contributor for Dan Palami's squad. He has a velcro-like first touch and can shut down the flanks with his power and speed. The Ivorian is equally adept in either side of the defense, and in the Singapore Cup Brian Reid deployed him as a holding midfielder where he set up two goals.
Most Inspirational Player of The Year: Jezurel Tonog. Tonog plays in the central midfield for Air Force and starred for them in the UFL Cup, where they had three straight extra time games. Tonog scored in the last one, the semifinal loss to Pachanga, in extra time to knot the game at 2-2 before PD won 3-2.
Tonog is the oldest of the three Bacolod Tonog brothers (Ziggy and Raymond were the others) who played for the national team. Jez is 43, and although Air Force retirement may loom, he still moves like a younger man.
“Marami pa siyang maituturo sa mga bata” says Air Force coach Brax Bracamonte.
Most Ridiculous Game of the Year: Pasargad 2, GAU 2, AET, PSG wins PSO 2-1. This semifinal of the 2012-2013 Smart PFF National Championship from last February will go down in history as one of the oddest games in the history of Filipino Football.
For starters, all four regular-time goals were scored in a six-minute span, with one clanging off the woodwork, off a keeper's head and into the goal.
Then things got surreal.
The penalty shootout involved a retake and two ejections when PSG's Reza Ataei and Jahambaksh Taher removed their shirts prematurely thinking the game was over. (They were both on yellow cards). It ended when Green Archer Ayi Nii hit the post on his attempt, with Pasargad's gloveless outfield -player-turned reserve keeper Francis Sumidivilla, wearing a bib, flailing the other way. There is video here, but not of Ataei's shirt removal and ejection.
Villain of the Year: Peping Cojuangco. The Philippine Olympic Committee head went against common sense, the Olympic spirit, and the wishes of all Pinoy Football fans in denying a slot for the U23 Azkals in the SEA Games because they didn't seem to be a gold medal prospect. Then afterwards he says gold medals weren't important. I'll leave it at that.
Best Refereeing Non-Call of the Year: Roberto Hernandez. The Los Baños, Laguna based FIFA referee showed his skill and his integrity with this amazing non-call on Li Mao's goal for Chinese Taipei against the Philippines in the Peace Cup. Everyone in the stadium thought it was off side but the replay clearly showed Hernandez was indeed correct in not raising his flag.
Funniest conversation between Football parents at a UFL game: (Identity withheld, but this really happened.)
DAD: That player (of the opposing team) is offside.
MOM: Then why aren't they calling it??
DAD: Because the ball hasn't been kicked yet.
MOM: Oh.
Worst Pun By A Club Technical Director: Hans Smit. Sometime during the UFL League the Green Archers United Globe TD came up to me before a game before Nomads, whose goalie then was 6'6” Friso Klok from the Netherlands.
Through a toothy Dutch-Indonesian smile, Coach Hans offered this:
“We have a special strategy for him. We're calling it 'counter-Klok.'”
#drumrollcymbalcrash. At least the Archers won the game.
Best Quote after a 33-0 Blowout: Chad Gould. “I was in a challenge and one of their players fell down. I took a look at him and realized, wow, he's really old!” - Spark Gould after Meralco defeated Blue Guards 33-0 in their UFL Cup group game. Blue Guards had several players beyond forty years old and a few sixty years or older.
Most Unique Warm-Up Kit: Cebu Queen City United. Interesting indeed.
Most Bizarre Piece of Goalkeeping: Moussa Sanogo. The (former) Global goalkeeper mistook this AFC President's Cup qualifier against Dordoi Bishkek for a neighborhood pickup game and decided to charge down into the opposing half with the game still in the balance. He was subbed minutes later and never donned the gloves for Global again.
And last but not least, the Binuhay Ang Patay award goes to me. As you can see from this clip, I attribute the cross that leads to Jinggoy Valmayor's goal for UP to Chris Monfort. As we all know, the former Ateneo coach, Football administrator and Milo TV commercial talent is long gone, and the crosser was in fact Carlos Monfort, who is from the next generation of that Footballing family.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
