Thrilling actions open things up for UA&P High 5 Men’s Futsal League 2023

After a successful season for the High 5 Women’s Futsal League this year, it’s time for the men as they took their skills to the taraflex floor of the University of Asia & Pacific Gymnasium to open up this year’s UA&P High 5 Men’s Futsal League.

In the opening match last October 1, 2023, Tuloy FC notched their first victory via 6-4 scoreline against a resilient Rizal Technological University side who led the match in the first half. A different approach to the second half gave Tuloy FC more control of the ball and made waves of attempts past RTU.

Jelou Doy Mercado was the hero for Tuloy FC in their opening match after a stellar performance that gave him a hat-trick to give them a good start in this year’s competition. RTU gave Tuloy FC a scare in the first half after leading by three goals after 11 minutes thanks to the efforts of Ghyles Humprey Aguilar, Paul Joshua Sajulga, John Lloyd Cupay, and Marl Jancent Morito but that would be the last time RTU would see the back of the net.

Photo by: Haru Sabijon

In the second match, Giligan FC and Azurri SC squared off in an action-packed battle with Giligan going away with the victory thanks to the late heroics of Lorenzo Hermosa who scored the winning goal at the death. Azurri got the upper hand in the first half thanks to Kenneth Morante’s goal in the 11th minute followed by another one from Eraño Libre in the 17th.

Jay Ar Inventor would then grab one back for the UA&P alumni before an equalizer in the final minute of the first half from Luis Miguel Cacho. Both sides would then cancel each other out in the second half with Koen Ashley Buhain who scored in the 24th minute before an equalizer from Inventor to get his brace.

Cacho gave the lead to Giligan FC in the 38th minute but was immediately canceled by Buhain a minute later. Hermosa and GIligan FC would then get the last laugh after scoring a goal in the 40th minute to give their side its first win in the bag.

Photo by: Haru Sabijon

The day was capped off by a nail-biting match between the Philippine Women’s University and Tondo FC which saw a 13-goal thriller that went in favor of PWU.

Sandy Saldaña went home with the player of the match award after his four-goal haul that propels him to the top of the goalscoring tally. Three of Saldaña’s goals completed the comeback for PWU including a game-winner two minutes before the end of the match.

Photo by: Haru Sabijon

GK Sipag FC opened up matchday two last October 2, 2023 with a massive 11-3 win over Luntian United. James De Torres and John Datuin scored their first hat-tricks of the season while Jimwell Rivas and John Emman Gubat both garnered a brace en route to their side’s dominating victory that gave them the first-ever high-scoring match of the season. Mateo Yuhico, Johann Casal, and David Emmanuel Poticano of Luntian FC, however, spoiled GK Sipag’s clean sheet.

Photo by: Haru Sabijon

The final match of the opening week saw Enderun College winning over the NCF Tigers Football via four goals to three scoreline. This intense match needed a spark of magic from Enderun’s golden boy MJ Canicosa, who also plays with Maharlika Manila FC in the Philippines Football League as he scored a hat-trick including a late goal in the 38th minute to give his side its first win of the season.

Photo by: Haru Sabijon

The 2023 season of the High 5 Men’s Futsal League serves as the country’s premier club futsal competition composed of 11 teams fighting for futsal supremacy. Catch the action live at the UA&P Gym every weekend or tune into the Futsal Philippines FB page and YouTube channel to catch the marquee games of the week. The Eat Sleep Breathe Football PH is a proud media partners of the UA&P High 5 Men's Futsal League.