BENTHEL Asia School of Technology (BAST) blasted the Cebu Regional Football Association for disqualifying its team in the local qualifiers of the PFF National U16 tournament.
The CRFA is holding a qualifier to determine the representative to the regional finals with the eight quarterfinalists of the last Aboitiz Cup U14 invited to join. The eight teams are BAST, which won the Aboitiz U14 crown, University of San Carlos, Don Bosco Technical Center B, Abellana National School in Group A, and Cebu Football Club, DBTC A, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, and Don Bosco Liloan in Group B.
Based on the rules set by the PFF, school-based or community-based teams may join the qualifiers. However, a community-based team is not allowed to combine with a school-based team. The PFF also allowed local FAs to add their own eligibility rules and according to sources, during the coaches meeting, they agreed on a three-month residency rule, a move meant to discourage player poaching.
In a social media post, a certain Jenny Tan posted, “BAST is disqualified to play today. And the only reason that they gave was: The kids did not solely played (sic) for BAST for the last 3 months but they also played for ADA. They disregarded the fact that most of these kids are students of BAST. And last Sunday, BAST won the championship in the Ateneo Cup 11 aside. “
Tan said she will take the CRFA to court.
Though the CRFA has yet to issue an official statement, CebuSports.Net learned that there were no objections raised when the residency rule was added and that BAST was given two days to change its lineup so it could meet the residency rule.
In the official match report, the University of San Carlos was handed the win via default because “BAST did not met (sic) the required number of players to start the game.”
Meanwhile, in the games that pushed through, Don Bosco Liloan punched its way into contention by holding Group B leader DBTC A to a scoreless draw.
Before the game, DBTC A had two straight wins, a 13-0 rout of CFC, and a 4-1 win over Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu. Robi Christopher Pacubas had two goals, while Mikhael Lukas Pazon and Jaime Caumeran had one each for DBTC.
Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu got its lone goal courtesy of Charles Markus Sia in the 90th minute.