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| Mark Cristino/UFL (file photo) |
By Kevin Estrada
MANILA--JP Voltes made an early statement in the first league match of the season, smashing a listless Pasargad for a 6-0 rout on hot and humid Saturday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
J Baguioro's first half hat-trick shoved last season's playoff winners to their victorious debut in the top flight, as he was duly backed up by Leondon Marcojos, Tadashi Odawara and substitute Alan Angeles to grab all three points for playing manager Yu Hoshide.
Newly acquired goalkeeper Michael Menzi was called into action once in the 39th minute but picked up a straightforward clean sheet in his debut.
Right from the opening whistle, Voltes imposed their game all throughout the match, and it took only eight minutes to draw first blood as the former Ceres booter deceptively fired a cross that went in past Masood Shadideh, who filled in the absence of newly acquired Albert Llevares in between the sticks.
Baguioro doubled their advantage nineteen minutes later, when he volleyed home from a Hoshide feed.
Voltes virtually settled the match eight minutes before half-time, with two quick-fire goals from Marcojos and Baguioro quadrupled their advantage, with the latter completed his hat-trick that put him ahead of the top scoring charts.
Not to be outdone in the second half, Odawara slotted his spot kick ten minutes from time after he was tackled by Divino Regis inside of the box.
Angeles put the final touch on the scoreboard as he beat the offside trap and chipped it in past Shadideh.
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