Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo reigns

Dae Min Jeon and Sung Ho Kang scored in a shootout to lift Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo to a 9-7 win over Fan Chew in the finals of the 2nd Annual Fiesta Beach Soccer 5-on-5 Tournament held last Saturday.

The victory was sweet for Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo, as this time it claimed the championship that eluded the team last year. Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo also made it to the finals of the inaugural competition, but bowed to IT&E.

Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo seemed headed for another bridesmaid finish when it bowed to Fan Chew in Game 1 of the finals, 2-0. Jack Thoensaket and Arkie Reusora scored the one goal each for Fan Chew to force a deciding Game 2.

The eventual champion earned a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals after going undefeated in the elimination round. Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo debuted with a 4-0 win over Just For Fun and then notched its second win after beating Hyatt, 4-2. With its 2-0 record, Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo advanced to the semifinals against Noonan and won anew, 4-1.

Fan Chew also prevailed in its first game, defeating Royal Bengal, 2-1. Then in the second match, Fan Chew fell to Noonan, 1-2, to drop to the loser’s bracket. Fan Chew returned to its winning ways after edging Royal Bengal, 2-1, and the former eventually clinched the second and last finals berth after recording two more wins. Fan Chew triumphed over Just 4 Fun, 5-2, and then pulled off a 4-1 upset over Noonan in the second and last semis match.

The Thoensaket-led Fan Chew extended its winning streak to three when it shut out Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo in Game 1 of the finals. However, Fan Chew failed to keep its momentum in the do-or-die Game 2, while Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo hit its target in the clutch.

Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo and Fan Chew were tied after the regulation, 5-all, and the game was still in a deadlock after the five-minute overtime period, 7-all. To finally decide the winner of the finals, organizers decided to have a shootout and Dae Min Jeon and Kang delivered the needed goals for Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo.

Joining Dae Min Jeon and Kang on the winning team are Dae Won Jeon, Henry Yang, Ho Jin Woo, and Chris Smith. Ahn Young Ha Seh Yo went home with $500, while Fan Chew settled for $300. Noonan and Just 4 Fun placed third and fourth, respectively, and took home prizes from tournament sponsors.

Other teams that joined the double-elimination tournament were Fiesta, Hyatt Beach Club, and the all-female White Hot. Each game was played in two eight-minute halves with five minutes extension (in case of a tie). Opposing teams must have four players each at the pitch, including their respective goalies.

Meanwhile, tournament organizers would like to thank the following for supporting last weekend’s competition: Fiesta Resort, Saipan Grand Hotel, Tan Holdings, Take Care, D&Q, DOCOMO, Rota Water, JWS, National Office Supplies, Island Apparel, Pacific Saipan, Toyota, AON Insurance, Yaong Corp., Luen Fung, Mobil Oil Marianas, JC Tenorio Enterprises, Taro Sue, and the volunteers.