CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Former national youth team players Josh Go of Corpus Christi School and Joie Gaid Jr. of Xavier University will lead a powerhouse Region 10 secondary boys football team to the Palarong Pambansa on April 27-May 4 in Davao City.
Go, the son of businessman Regner Go, played for the Philippine U16 team which saw action in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U16 tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia in July last year.
He played defender for the national team but plays striker and midfielder for the Region 10 team under Coach Marc Racines.
Gaid, on the other hand, was a member of the Philippine U11 ‘Little Azkals’ team which trained for a month in Loughborough, England in 2013.
Apart from being a playmaker and a pillar in the midfield for the Region 10 boys, he is also the only player from Xavier University who made the team.
Aside from Go, CCS is represented by seven other players, which include Geo Tacandong, MJ Hojas, Emilio Rubio, Thomas Marfori, Blake Carrera, Jesse Bajarla, Aeron Subesa and goalkeeper James Mocorro.
Mocorro is a reliable custodian who led the CCS team to the U17 championship in the Thirsty Cup last January in Cebu City. He was named MVP for his efforts.
Completing the line-up for the North Min high school booters are Joshua Montesino and John Gementiza of Rosevale School, Gems Averia and Eugene Ariolla of St. Mary’s School, Chester Tidor of Misamis Orient Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS), Graig Roxas of Opol National High School, Gelo Loyloy of Bukidnon, and Marvin Tamiat of Oroquieta City.
Youthful, passionate coach
Coach Marc Racines has done wonders for the Corpus Christi High School team since he was named coach in 2017.
While he is probably the youngest football coach in Cagayan de Oro City, the son of veteran coach Wilbert ‘Webbie’ Racines has gotten out of the shadows of his prolific father.
The youthful coach just took over the coaching realm of the Corpus Christi School High School team two years ago while coach Webbie concentrated on developing the young elementary boys’ team of CCS.
His presence immediately made an impact with the CCS high school team as he led them to various local and national titles last school year.
He then highlighted his sterling performances with victories in the local Palaro elimination competitions then captured the Regional Palaro gold in 2017 that put his Region 10 team to the Palarong Pambansa in Vigan in the summer of 2018.
The Region 10 team topped its group with two wins and a draw, winning against Davao 4-2, then Central Luzon and drew with eventual champion National Capital Region, 2-2.
The North Min boys however, were unlucky as they suffered a 0-1 defeat from the hands of Soccsksargen in the quarterfinals to end their campaign.
Last year was no different story for coach Racines, as he continued his lucky streak leading CCS to victories in the local Palaro elimination tournaments and then capturing the Regional Palaro gold in Tangub City in December to gain the right to represent North Mindanao in the Palarong Pambansa late this month in Davao City.
“My team now is 90 percent ready for the Palaro. We have been training in Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and playing against former and current UAAP, NCAA and professional players. We are ready,’’ he said.
He added that he has a better team now compared to last year because they have better chemistry.
“My only problem is that some of our new players who do not have Palaro experience are still scared,’’ he said.
They are ready for the battle ahead and aching to seek vengeance for their quarterfinals’ loss against Soccsksargen last year. (PNA)
