Siniloan now on top of 7's Super League after blanking Pasig

Siniloan is all smiles after taking the lead in the AIA 7's Super League. Jihan Caparros/AIA 7's Football League
By Dugout Philippines

MANILA––Joaquin Collo struck a brace to lead the Siniloan Blues in spoiling the Pasig Pirates’ home stand with a 3-0 win in Week 11 of the AIA 7’s Super League on Sunday night at the Atleta 63 Football Field inside the Bridgetowne Complex in Pasig.

Collo opened the scoring for the Blues as he struck a shot from straight out in the 16th minute of the 40-minute regulation.

Carlo Dorin made it 2-0 for the Laguna-based side as he was alone just at the right side of the goal post in the 33rd minute, putting pressure on the home club to score three straight strikes to steal the win.

Collo, though, made sure that the Pirates would not even have a chance to score as he shot the dagger goal from almost the middle of the pitch in the fifth minute of the comeback period.

The win moved Siniloan up to the top spot at 5-3 following Pampanga’s 3-1 loss to Alabang earlier in the night.

South Supers bring down Strikers

The South Supers began spoiling the Strikers’ bid to stay on top of the table in the 27th minute when Akinwunmi Bolaji struck a close-range goal off an assist from former Philippine men’s national football team captain Stephan Schrock.

Frustration mounted on the side of Pampanga at the half-hour mark after Harvey Barro reacted to a foul by Jhon Azares. Barro struck down Azares, prompting the referee to give him a red card and send him out of the match.

Sevens football rules, though, say that a team can substitute for a red-carded player to keep the match a 7-on-7.

Just as it was fair game again, Solomon Okereke, the Super League’s leading scorer, struck his 19th goal of the season in the 37th minute to tie the match for the Strikers.

However, just as the comeback period was looming to be a golden goal battle, Bolaji found the net right in the second-half stoppage time to put the South Supers back up, pressuring the Strikers to net two straight shots in the final frame to steal the win.

It took 11 minutes and the match reduced to a 4-on-4 before Christopher Anene struck the dagger for Alabang.

Both the South Supers and Strikers are now tied at 5-4 in the standings with the former taking second place on goal difference.

Heroes shock Nets

In the other match, the Quezon City Heroes stunned the Paranaque Nets, 3-1.

The Sunday results forced a three-way tie among the Pirates, Nets, and the BGC Soldiers, who took Week 11, in fourth place with 12 points.

Pasig remained fourth due to a better goal difference followed by Paranaque (fifth) and BGC (sixth).

The Blues play again next Sunday to face the Nets while the Heroes collide with the Strikers. Both games are set simultaneously at 7:30 p.m. 

The Alabang South Supers will return this weekend as well to face the BGC Soldiers at 8:30 p.m.

Follow the site on X: @DugoutPH