PRESS RELEASE – Guam Shipyard escaped a late surge by the Cobras for an 8-7 opening-day win in the 2012 IT&E Men’s Futsal League Sunday at the Guam Sports Complex Gym.

After holding a small 4-3 lead by halftime, Guam Shipyard’s renewed attacking strategy resulted in three unanswered goals in the first four minutes of second-half play to stun the Cobras momentarily. A minute later, the Cobras’ Ashton Surber interrupted Shipyard’s mini scoring barrage finding the back of the net with a shot from the left side.

Shipyard’s David Manibusan would go on to score the eventual game-winning goal connecting on a loose ball near the goal to put his team up 8-4.

Although Eddie Lorenzo, Austin Cruz, and Surber each scored for the Cobras in the next few minutes, the Shipyard defense managed to shut down its opponents even with 13 minutes left to play for the slim 8-7 victory.

Surber led all scorers with four goals. Lorenzo, Cruz, and Kameron Topasna also scored for the Cobras. Jared Quichocho led Shipyard with two goals. Shipyard’s other goals came from Donald Weakley, Carlo Unpingco, Christopher Reyes, Ajay Pothen and Manibusan. Shipyard also added a Cobras own goal to its final tally. Pothen was playing the goalkeeper position when he scored his goal about four minutes into the first half.

The Cobras’ Ashton Surber keeps Guam Shipyard’s Aaron Jackson behind him to stay in possession of the ball in an opening day match of the 2012 IT&E Men’s Futsal League Sunday. (courtesy photo)

In other games, the Bank of Guam Crushers edged Doosan FC 4-3. Marco Napoli scored twice for the Crushers and teammates Josh Pangelinan and Jaime Ortega scored one each. Natsuki Recella scored twice and Kevin Hashimoto scored once for Doosan.

The Paintco Strykers “A” team defeated the FC Shotguns 11-3 behind Hiro Asoshina’s four goals. Rico Espinosa scored twice for Paintco and teammates Caleb Barretto, Francis Chargualaf, Randy Santos and Ross Awa also scored for the Strykers. Paintco’s other goal came on an own goal by the Shotguns. Joe Laanan, Andres Gil and Patrick Sherman scored for the Shotguns.

In the day’s final game, Quality Distributors blanked the Paintco Strykers “B” team, 13-0. Andre Gadia led Quality with a hat trick. Take Inoue and Trevor Santos each scored twice, and teammates Ryan Gordon, Shawn Spindel, Kaito Inoue, Brian Pritchard, Douglas Lauder, and Joseph Cruz each scored once in the contest.

The Paintco Strykers “A” team’s goalkeeper, J.R. Campos, right, stops an FC Shotguns shot in an opening day match of the 2012 IT&E Men’s Futsal League Sunday at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. The Strykers “A” team defeated the Shotguns 11-3. (courtesy photo)

Futsal action continues Friday starting at 6 p.m. with Doosan facing Quality Distributors. The Crushers take on the Strykers “B” team at 7 p.m. and the Cobras play against the Shotguns FC at 8 p.m. The evening’s final match will pit Shipyard against the Strykers “A” team at 9 p.m.