• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Team Philippines – San Carlos, who won the Real Madrid Foundation World Challenge Championship (Silver Group) in Madrid, Spain, will receive cash incentives of P300,000, Mayor Renato Gustilo announced yesterday.
The San Carlos City, Negros Occidental-based squad scored a 3-1 victory over USA Blue in the championship match of the 12-under tourney.
Before reaching the finals, the team faced USA Blue, Canada Blue, and USA White in the elimination rounds.
They dominated the United Arab Emirates in the quarterfinals with a 10-0 victory and followed with a close 3-2 win against Turkey.
Each player, including the three coaches, will receive P20,000 in incentives, Gustilo said in a press briefing.
The 12-man team composed of Felex Rey Caballero, Mark Ross Mabesa, Twirl Gelito, Mathew Jacob Pamilar, Klent Paul Montilla, Franz Mekael Jhay Salvador, Christian Paul Limpio, Frenchzuet Macrhyl Subrado, John Jacob Sildura, Dhrey Miguel, Ivan Dio Silva, and Charles Adam Dignos are beneficiaries of the Escuela Socio Deportiva Sining at Pag-asa (SIPA) Program of the city and Fundacion Santiago, represented the Philippines in the 2024 Real Madrid Foundation Clinics World Challenge held at Valdebebas Training Grounds on March 24-29.
Jose Miguel Valmayor, Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) president, said the win of the team is a product of the city’s grassroots football program in partnership with private sponsors.
Valmayor is the executive director of the San Carlos Development Board.
The victory is the fruit of years of cooperation between Fundación Real Madrid and Filipino NGO Fundación Santiago within the framework of the Escuela Socio Deportiva SiPa sa San Carlos.
The 12 players made the team based not only on their football skills, but also on how they represented the values of the Escuela Socio Deportiva.
Gustilo also acknowledged the support of the team’s major sponsors, namely Aboitiz Power, San Julio Realty, Studio 300, and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.*
