NMI, PH, Japan, HK featured in LPK Cup

The LPK Cup 2024, a friendly soccer tournament yesterday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville, featured matches from four soccer clubs in the NMI, the Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong.

The teams were the Northern Marianas Football Association Women’s Team, Tuloy FC Women’s Team from the Philippines, Shonan Bellmare FC U15 Girls Team from Japan, and Chelsea Soccer School HK Women’s Team from Hong Kong.

The cup was in memory of NMIFA president Jerry Tan’s mother, Lam Pak Kim, who passed away at the age of 95 three weeks ago in Hong Kong.

The cup was attended by former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, dignitaries, NMIFA clubs and members, family and friends of the players, and football fans.

As of press time, not all matches are finished.

The NMIFA Women’s Team won one of two matches in Rounds 1 and 2.

They defeated Tuloy FC, 1-0, in Round 2 after a late-game goal by Jannah Casarino in the 23rd minute. She was assisted by Khristelle Itaas who kicked the ball to her halfway across the pitch, then Casarino pushed forward with the defender at her side. The keeper lunged forward to defend but Casarino kicked to her right and found an opening for their first goal and win of the tourney.

In their first match, the NMIFA Women’s Team lost to Chelsea FC, 0-2.

The first match of the tourney was between Shonan Bellmare and Tuloy, with Bellmare taking the win, 2-0. Then in the match between Chelsea FC and Shonan Bellmare, Chelsea FC won, 1-0.

After all six round-robin matches, an awards banquet was held at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. The champion will be crowned based on the highest accumulated points earned during the rounds.

If two or more teams are equal based on the above criteria, their rankings shall be determined as follows: Higher goal difference between the teams concerned; higher number of goals scored between the teams concerned; and least number of goals against between the teams concerned.

Results of the awards banquet will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.

Before the tourney began, Tan made his remarks about the LPK Cup and his late mom. “She’s been to Saipan many, many times. She truly enjoyed this island. So, in her memory, we have a friendly tournament this afternoon and welcome the three visiting teams.”

For Macapagal-Arroyo, she said, “What a wonderful gesture to make this cup in memory of your mother and please accept our condolences. I’m very happy once again to be on Saipan. It’s my second time—this time to watch football. Soccer was not a big game on Saipan a long time ago before you put up your football association—maybe only 100 people played it. But now, with your support, the Northern Marianas Football Association has been able to give a lot of exposure to soccer for the youth here and around the region.”

Macapagal-Arroyo is the honorary chairwoman of the Tuloy Football Club, and last visited Saipan 30 years ago. “Let me say, it’s a wonderful exposure for Tuloy to be here playing with the other teams from the Northern Marianas, from Japan, and Hong Kong. What a wonderful exposure and vice versa. So, a wonderful game and good luck to all of you,” she said.

Published by Saipan Tribune - Jul 19, 2024