Real Molinillo Establish Winning Margin Record; Green Stallions, Mentors Top after Round 4

Tyron Regalado of Real Molinillo (in white) scored the LFL's first-ever double-hat trick.

Lipa City, 16 December – Mentors FC reclaimed the lead in Group A of Season 2 of the LFL after winning a 9-goal thriller over erstwhile leaders La Salle FC in Round 4 action at the Aboitiz Pitch of The Outlets at Lipa. In a seesaw battle that swung one way to the other, the youngsters of La Salle took the early lead through a breakaway goal scored by Ronnie Singson.

Mentors soon restored parity with David Franz Fornea scoring from the penalty spot after some clumsy defending by the youngsters of La Salle. Mark Anthony Fernandez’s late effort turned out to be the marginal goal of nine as the Mentors, majority of whom are personnel of the Philippine Air Force at Basilio Fernando Air Base, returned to the top of the table of Group A.

Harold Bayona, Rex Justado and Richard Ruiz were the other goalscorers for the Mentors. For La Salle, Samuel Panghulan scored once and Jose Gregorio Antioquia contributed a brace in their team’s losing effort.

Mentors FC (orange) reclaimed Group A leadership from their opponents La Salle FC.

In a significant turn of events, Legends FC scored a big win over an undermanned Coffee Millers FC to stay third in Group A but, menacingly, also to within a win of ousting La Salle from the semis and qualifying themselves. Lester Carandang was in hattrick form with 5 goals for the Legends; as was Raymond de la Rosa who pitched in with 3. Gabriel Caibal completed the scoring for the team.

Meanwhile, Cyrus Rohin Vatcha and Jan Chrisandre Palad, with a brace, scored the consolation goals for the Coffee Millers.

The big win means that the Legends have the same goal difference of +7 as second-placed La Salle FC with a game at hand. La Salle had already completed its group fixtures in the heartbreaking loss to the Mentors and hope their tormentors will be at the top of their game in their final group match against Legends on the last Sunday of January.

Legends FC (black) crushed Coffee Millers FC to open up a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.

Any win by the Legends over the Mentors ends La Salle’s campaign; while a victory by a two-goal margin sends them top of the table with the Mentors qualifying for the semis as group runners-up. A draw between the two sides sends La Salle through.

In Group B, high-flying Green Stallions FC continued its scorching form with a surprising stroll over guest team Real Baraco FC of Batangas City. The score was 5-1. Gerard Pena scored his second hattrick of the tournament with Jericho Bariata and Reinnier Olivarez also scoring a goal each. Javier Ramos Jr. scored Real Baraco’s only reply.

In a statement win, ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa burst into goalscoring form in a 14-nil romp over Group B’s bottom team Kings FC. The 14-goal winning margin erased the earlier record established by Green Stallions against Lipa Emmanuel in the previous round.

Tyron Edward Regalado scored the Lipa Football League’s first-ever double hattrick of six goals to lead Real Molinillo’s charge. With this feat, Regalado jumped straight to the top of the Season 2 goalscoring table. Renz Matthew Dimaano was also in hattrick form with 4 goals, while Joseph Victor Medina contributed a brace.

Luis Martin Canlas and Eldrich de Villa scored a goal each to complete Real Molinillo’s record-setting goalscoring spree.

Green Stallions and Real Molinillo meet in a top of the table clash in January to wind up group B action in Round 5. A draw means the Green Stallions will qualify for the semis as the top seed from the group, while a loss hands the privilege over to their opponents.

Despite the loss to Green Stallions, Real Baraco can, in fact, still qualify for the semis if the club can score a big win over its final day opponent Lipa Emmanuel FC, while also hoping that the Green Stallions can rout Real Molinillo with a volleyball score.

Action in the encounter between Green Stallions FC and Real Baraco.

At the moment, the chips are on the side of Real Molinillo who have a +20 goal difference, compared to Real Baraco’s +3.

Season 2 of the Lipa Football League is jointly presented by ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa and The Outlets of Lipa. El Abyador Resort is the tournament’s principal sponsor.