08/10/2013
PRESS RELEASE
JMC CUP 5
Calamba City. Team AZKALS Head Coach Michael Hans Weiss, together with Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Secretary General of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and former Senator and Laguna Governor Joey Lina, who was also recently elected as President of the Laguna Football Association (LFA), graced the opening of the Air 21 JMC CUP 5 Calamba Football Festival held last September 28 at the sprawling green fields of The Plaza – site of the world’s tallest statue of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
Calamba City Vice Mayor Ross Rizal, represented Mayor Timmy Chipeco, and welcomed the more than 555 young football players of some 43 registered teams while Congressman Joaquin M. Chipeco Jr. of the 2nd District of Laguna gave his inspirational message as guest of honor having been the one who initiated this “Join in Making Champions” or JMC CUP project in 2012 during his last term as Calamba City Mayor.
REAL Elementary School won the over-all championship in the under 9 and U13 age categories, while Castora Alviar National High School and the Calamba National High School coveted the U17 boys and U17 girls, respectively, in this JMC CUP 5 7-aside, 15 minute/play competition managed by the LFA and presented by Air21 and the Lina Group of Companies together with San Miguel Corporation and supported by Cherifer, Greenfields Development Corporation, Union Galvasteel and Yakult and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Also part of the program was the very interesting interlude from an 11-year old Calambeno and member of the Calamba Puppies, Nicolai San Jose Abalos, who is studying at Halang Elementary school. Nicolai shared his memorable experience as he was the only kid from a public school from among the 22 TEEN AZKALS selected by PFF from all over the country. They just arrived from a 3-week rigid football training in Longborough United Kingdom, England sponsored by the British Council as he celebrated his 11th birthday there last August 29. Nicolai thanked Air21, other sponsors, Calamba Mayor Timmy Chipeco and Joey Lina for their support. Four (4) other Calamba Puppies also made it to the Team B of the Teen AZKALS’ training pool.
