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| With a new Aboitiz Cup coming, the Aboitiz Pitch will become good as new again. Ivan Saldajeno |
LIPA—The Aboitiz Pitch here is getting a huge makeover as it looks to welcome back mainstream football to its lore.
Clifford Academia, Lima Estate vice president for operations, said on Friday that he did not actually see the fixing coming as he also was surprised by the high demand to rent the field.
"Every month, there are activities. In fact, we didn't expect that we will be fixing the pitch this early in its life. That's how impactful it is in terms of its role in the community," Academia said during the press launch of the 23rd Aboitiz Football Cup.
Since opening in 2018, the Aboitiz Pitch quickly became Batangas' top football hub, especially when Green Archers United used the field as its home during its stay in the PFL.
Even mid-major collegiate league NCAA South took notice of the Aboitiz Pitch's quick ascent into an in-demand venue that it became the home of its football tournament.
Detailing the fixes, Academia said, "We're fixing the turf. I would say it's really a major maintenance work."
Rely San Agustin, the chief organizer of the Aboitiz Football Cup through his RSA1 Sports Group, said that he can ask PFL commissioner Coco Torre to have the Aboitiz Pitch as a league venue again.
"Once dumating si Coco dito, kakausapin na natin yan," San Agustin said. "I guess we can offer it to a team that could maybe consider it as their home."
Torre, also the interim Philippine Football Federation secretary general, will be a guest of honor in the Aboitiz Football Cup opening on Nov. 11.
The Aboitiz Football Cup runs until Dec. 9.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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