FutBulakenyos clinches 1st CLFL title with game to go

Subic Bay --- The Bulacan side clinched the championship of the inaugural season of the Central Luzon Football League (CLFL) after the Futbulakenyos FC held on to a 3-2 scoreline against the Lighthouse Amihan FC (LAFC) at the Remy Field last July 1st.

Despite the loss, the Olongapo/Subic Bay side cemented their 2nd place finish in the league with an away win against Tarlac FC, 4-2, at the Tarlac Recreational Center yesterday (July .7

Dubbed as the championship match, the Batang 'Gapo scored first to the cheer of some 1,200 supporters. Futbulakenyos equalized just before half time, silencing the boisterous home crowd.

After a string of errors from the LAFC in the second half, the Bulacan side added two more goals early to push the scoreline to 3-1. But the home team managed to punch through the central defenders and slot home a goal with 25 minutes left in the game.

"We really had a hard time in beating the Amihan FC for the 2nd time. Their group attack improved a lot, breaking our defenders wall," Emman Robles, Futbulakenyos coach said in a statement.

Robles said that they wanted to win the game to seal the championship for the people of Bulacan.

Only the Lighthouse Amihan had a chance to steal the Sinukuan from Bulacan, but the home loss, after an impressive 18 goals in the last two games, doomed their chances.

"Against the football giants of Central Luzon, our football developmental team performed magnificently. We offer the silver finish to all our supporters---to every person who considers himself or herself as a Batang 'Gapo," LAFC coach John Bayarong said.

Bayarong added that the championship was decided by the breaks of the game "and it went their (Futbulakenyos) way. Our most sincere congratulations to the maiden champions of CLFL."

Meanwhile, Pampanga FC unleashed a barrage of 3 goals in the second half of their home against Tarlac FC last, chalking up a point in a 3-3 home draw recently.

"It was a terrific day for PFC considering the odds of getting goals and even finished the game with a tie," coach Larry Simon said after the game.

The match had to be moved to Don Bosco-Mabalacat, after heavy rains made the Bren Guiao Sport Complex unplayable.

"We experimented with positions being confident with the lead and we paid for it dearly. We were not the better team in the field," Tarlac FC coach Christian de Ocampo noted.

The CLFL is set to end its maiden season at the Remy Field in Subic Bay on July 14th with a double header featuring Futbulakenyos Fc versus Pampanga FC at 2pm. The other game, Ligthouse Amihan FC against Tarlac FC will kick off at 4:30PM.

"After a short break, the teams will fight it out in the Central Luzon Futsal League with all teams travelling to a host team futsal court every match day. We hope we get the same support from our home crowds," Christian de Ocampo, league commissioner announced.