BACOLOD City — The inaugural CASAMA Cup kicked off in Sagay City on Monday, August 31, launching a six-day hunt for promising football players from across the Negros Island Region who could eventually make their mark on the national and international stage.
Also known as the 1st Congressman Thirdy Marañon 11-Aside Football National Tournament, the competition drew 14 teams in the Under-18 and Open divisions at the Sagay National High School football field.
Negros Occidental Second District Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III, the tournament’s promoter, said the competition seeks to provide young and emerging players a platform to showcase their skills and potentially follow the path of accomplished Negros footballers.
“With CASAMA Cup, we also want to discover more new football talent ripe to shine on the international stage,” the solon said.
The tournament, which runs until Saturday, September 5, features five teams in the U18 division — Sagay City, Escalante City, Bago City, Cadiz City and Bacolod City National High School.
Nine squads are competing in the Open Division — the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Sagay City, Escalante City, Bago City, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle and Central Philippines State University.
Marañon said he hopes the tournament will uncover players capable of following in the footsteps of Spanish-Filipino striker Bienvenido Marañon, who starred for Ceres-Negros Football Club before representing the Philippine Azkals.
Negros has also produced several notable football personalities, including brothers Dave and Norman Fegidero, Florentino Broce, Tating Pasilan, Eduard Sacapaño and Joshua Beloya.
Beyond developing competitive players, Marañon said football could also open employment opportunities for young athletes, particularly with uniformed services participating in the tournament.
“The tournament can also lead our youth to secure employment in the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Airforce, or Philippine Army once they’re spotted as ace players,” he said.
Marañon noted that several residents of Sagay have already entered government uniformed services through opportunities created by football.
The congressman is also pushing to establish CASAMA — comprising Cadiz City, Sagay City and Manapla — and the Second Congressional District as Negros Occidental’s “Sports Capital.”
Cadiz has been building its reputation in badminton, while Sagay has emerged as a powerhouse in softball and is seeking to further strengthen its football program.
Sagay’s girls’ U12 and U14 softball teams recently captured championships in the PONY World Series in Hemet, California and Texas, United States, respectively./PN
