• SAMUEL COLINCO JR.
Buglas Filipinas, an all-Negrense girls football team, travelled about 5,816 kilometers to Canberra, Australia, on July 12 and defied the odds by finishing second in the under-15 female category of the 33rd Kanga Cup, one of the largest youth football tournaments in the southern hemisphere.
Dubbed “small but terrific” by some impressed spectators, the Negrenses surpassed expectations as they came close to bagging the championship with five wins, one loss, and one draw in seven matches.
Their achievement doesn’t sound like much, until you consider that they faced bigger and taller Australian foes. Physically, they were clearly at a disadvantage.
Aside from the bigger opponents and unfamiliar territory, they also had to deal with the freezing cold. Coming from hot and humid Bacolod City where the lowest temperature is 28°C, they struggled to play in Canberra during the winter, where the temperature was around 3°C, even at noon.
They also had a shallow bench, having only 13 players in the line-up due to visa problems, which meant only two substitutions could be made during each 70 minute-match that were scheduled daily for five days.
Yet, they dominated the elimination round, to the surprise of organizers and fans alike.
They were undefeated in five games, their only setback a 1-1 draw.
They shut out the opposition twice (7-0, 4-0).
They scored a total of 17 goals while limiting their opponents to just four goals.
In the semifinals, they won a penalty shootout, 3-0, after regulation time ended in a 1-1 deadlock.
It wasn’t until the finals that fatigue and the cold weather finally took their toll, allowing the Rouse Hill Rams to exploit their homefield advantage to the fullest.
The 0-4 score was a bitter loss for them, since they had earlier beaten the Rams, 2-1, in the preliminaries, when they still had fresh legs.
Although they fell short of the title, they came home heads held high, each with a silver medal.
The secret to their outstanding performance was their “12th man,” or the Pinoys living in Canberra, along with several family members who traveled with them to give all-out support throughout the tournament.
In all of their matches, Filipino-Aussies and Pinoy supporters of Buglas Filipinas outnumbered the locals cheering from the bleachers. Some Aussies who found them likable underdogs were even reportedly seen rooting for them.
Rene Jiffrey Lomugdang led the team as technical director. Pangs Silava called the shots as head coach, while Elmer Lacknet Bedia, three-time Mr. Football awardee, helped as lead consultant. Rachelle Beatrize Semillano, Christian Earl Bona, Red Yasay, and Ron Gerard Molequin served as assistant coaches.
The players are Nathalie Rhaine Andres, Renee Gavriel Animathea Lomugdang, Chloe Belisse Pasama, Angel Nicole Segovia, Kelsy Skye Anub, Ysabel Anara Yasay, Maxene Dominique Sison, Shanel Dominique Molequin, Hushlee Lhannia De Larrazabal, Claudia Elise Montinola, Jhayne Elainne Dalogdog, Marinel Gonzales, and Yannah Marie Amar.
They represented seven schools in the Negros Island Region, with 3 from University of St. La Salle, 3 from Maranatha Christian College, 2 each from St. Scholastica’s Academy and Silliman University, and 1 each from Himamaylan Central School, Escalante National High School, and Bacolod City National High School.*
