By Jack Biantan/Philippine News Agency
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Iligan Medical Center College, the busiest football playing school in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, has been busy this summer preparing to represent Northern Mindanao for the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) national finals in Davao City on May 18-25.
The Kicking Rhinos under coach Allan Aberilla are also busy in their training camp to select football varsity players for the coming school year 2019-20 at their decent football pitch in San Miguel Village at the heart of the industrial city of Iligan.
The school’s board of directors led by president Royce Torres has thrown their all-out support to the program established by Aberilla for some time now.
The core players of the Northern Mindanao high school football team are made up of players which won the gold medal in the regionals held in this city early this year.
IMCC swept the regionals beating Gingoog City College, 3-1, First Fruits Academy of Valencia City, Bukidnon, 3-2, and Liceo de Cagayan University, 3-0, and St. Agustin Institute of Technology of Valencia City also of Bukidnon, 3-0.
“My IMCC players are ready anytime as we are now having our summer camp. My only problem is the other players from another school. We will only gather them and start training with them on April 30,’’ Aberilla said Wednesday.
However, Aberilla remains optimistic that they will put up a decent showing in the National PRISAA as they still have time to prepare before the tournament. “We will be ready against the top football teams from private schools in Davao,’’ he said.
IMCC finished fourth in the National PRISAA meet in Bohol last year behind champion West Negros of Western Visayas, runner-up Andres Bonifacio Memorial College of Dipolog (Region 9), and second runner-up Rizal Memorial College of Davao (Region 11).
The Region X team is a very young team led by Vigan Palaro veteran and goalkeeper Farhan Labay who was the starting goalkeeper in the Northern Mindanao team that finished fourth in the Boys Elementary Division in the Vigan Palaro.
They also have reliable striker and midfielder Joaquin Picardal who has been a key player for IMCC since his elementary days. The team will also rely on twin brothers Rome and Shane Bargamento and brothers Robert and Vhal Togores for firepower in the offense.
They will also bank on NMRAA veterans John Delos Reyes and John Whilray and newcomers Hamilton Manosa, Kyle Boaquina, and Kelly Dapunan.
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