Claret to bare secrets

There’s something special about Claret School of Quezon City’s football program and the varsity coaches are ready to share their secrets in this year’s first module for beginners and advanced players over 12 weekend sessions at the Red Roosters’ newly-inaugurated artificial turf in Diliman starting Aug. 19.

Claret started to conduct football modules in 2008 and over 2,000 kids have benefited from more than 20 clinics staged through the years. The program wasn’t held last year as Claret undertook an upgrade of its facilities. But now, coaches Bob Salvacion, Benj Anicete and Ayr Acejas along with Airene Decena and Mary Claire Igarta of the Outkast Football Club are set to welcome the latest batch of learners on Claret’s brand-new pitch.

Claret’s field is the first non-infill turf in the country, meaning it doesn’t use rubber granules that absorb heat. Last July 17, the turf was inaugurated and blessed by chaplain Fr. Christopher Ligason. It was Fr. Santiago Gonzalez, a Spanish priest who was the first Claret director, who pushed for the turf as he is a football lover and a fan of FC Real Madrid and Santander. The current school director is Fr. Mauricio Ulep.

The sessions are open mainly to boys and girls within the age range of 5 to 12 but Anicete said they’ll take in kids up to 16 by exception. Each session is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. The clinics will be held on Saturdays and Sundays up to Sept. 24. The fee to participate is P5,000 with every participant to receive a Claret football T-shirt, string bag and certificate of attendance. Claret, a Catholic elementary and secondary institution founded by Claretian missionaries in 1967, has produced several outstanding athletes, including PBA players J. C. Intal and Fonzo Gotladera, Alab Pilipinas ABL head coach Mac Cuan and brother Japs, two-time SEA Games poomsae-taekwondo gold medalists Dustin and Raphael Mella and national shooter Hagen Topacio. But it’s in football where Claret has made the biggest waves.

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Over the last two years, Claret’s boys and girls football teams have dominated their rivals.  The boys topped RIFA, Alaska Cup, RIFA summer league and PLDT-NCRFA Youth while the girls swept RIFA’s three age groups, AFC Cup High School Open, RIFA summer league and Mendiola Cup.

At the recent Palarong Pambansa in Antique, the nucleus of the NCR champion team came from Claret. Here’s how it evolved. First, Claret won the right to represent Quezon City after downing 7-time UAAP juniors champion FEU, 3-2, in the division final at FEU Fern-Diliman. Salvacion wasn’t available for the match as he had to conduct a PFF coaching course so assistant Anicete held the fort. FEU, coached by Vince Santos, was up 2-0 at the half but Carlos de Guzman and the Tacardon brothers Francis and Fidel booted in a goal apiece to win it for Claret. In last year’s division final, FEU beat Claret, 7-3.

Claret’s coaching staff invited seven FEU players to reinforce the Quezon City squad for the NCR qualifiers. Also enlisted was FEU assistant coach Dexter Chio. Quezon City cruised in the group stage, beating Paranaque, 16-0, Pasay, 5-1 and Muntinlupa by default. In the semis, Quezon City nipped Muntinlupa, 1-0 then advanced to beat Manila, 5-1, to earn the right to represent NCR at the Palaro. Manila was coached by Ravelo Saluria and represented by Arellano and Letran players. Manila made it to the final by ousting Mandaluyong, coached by Freddie Estacion and represented by players from La Salle Greenhills and St. Benilde, 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

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Salvacion bolstered the NCR lineup for the Palaro by adding three players from Muntinlupa – two from La Salle Zobel and one from Southridge. At the Palaro, NCR wouldn’t be denied the gold medal. In the final, NCR upended Western Visayas, composed of players from Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, 3-1. Keith Absalon, Shanden Vergara and Fidel Tacardon netted a goal each to stake NCR to a 3-0 lead at the half.  Johnny Toledo struck at the 57th minute to avoid a shutout. NCR’s Orlan Togores was named MVP and teammate Jason Blanco, best goalkeeper while Western Visayas’ Gerry Bueno was adjudged best midfielder. 

Anicete coaches the Claret Football Center girls team, a Claret-based club for girls whose players are sisters or relatives of Claretians. Last June, Anicete piloted the team to the Mendiola Cup crown in San Beda with assistants Rani Castro and Harold Alcoresa. Castro is a co-coach with the Ateneo Medicine women’s team while Alcoresa is a winger with the FEU seniors squad. The lineup included ex-U14 players Rachelle Sanciangco and Patricia Lim.