{"id":28136,"date":"2018-04-26T09:00:26","date_gmt":"2018-04-26T01:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/blog\/?p=28136"},"modified":"2018-04-26T10:09:57","modified_gmt":"2018-04-26T02:09:57","slug":"tondo-fc-falls-short-at-neymar-jrs-five-national-finals-to-winners-perspolise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/blog\/2018\/04\/26\/tondo-fc-falls-short-at-neymar-jrs-five-national-finals-to-winners-perspolise\/","title":{"rendered":"Tondo FC Falls Short at Neymar Jr\u2019s Five National Finals to Winners Perspolise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Participants take part in the Neymar Jr’s Five 2018 National Final in Bonifacio Global City, Philippines on April 21, 2018. National Champions Perpolise (white) triumphed over favorites Tondo FC (blue) with a score of 4-0.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

On Saturday, April 21st, 2018, tournament favorites Tondo FC<\/strong> lost to Perspolise<\/strong> at a score of 4-0 at the Neymar Jr\u2019s Five National Finals<\/strong> at Turf BCG, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila.<\/p>\n

\"\"Team Perspolise celebrate after winning the Neymar Jr’s Five 2018 National Final in Bonifacio Global City, Philippines on April 21, 2018<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we were all rooting for Tondo FC, they would have made a great story!\u201d says Sports Director Anton del Rosario. \u201cBut I\u2019m happy for Perspolise, I\u2019ve got friends there. On the world finals, Perspolise won\u2019t play like they\u2019re on vacation. They\u2019re going to play to win!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Participants compete in the Neymar Jr’s Five 2018 National Final in Bonifacio Global City, Philippines on April 21, 2018<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

During last year\u2019s inaugural Neymar Jr\u2019s Five Philippine Qualifier, Tondo FC won the hearts of event-goers as the tournament\u2019s sentimental favorites. Following the withdrawal of Baggie FC, Tondo FC surprised everyone when they advanced to the finals in a losing effort to Naxional in an intense and hotly contested battle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played better than last year,\u201d shares Tondo FC\u2019s Dennis Balbin. \u201cWe really had to prepare for this year. We worked on team defense and organization, learning that Neymar Jr\u2019s Five is really a team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Tournament favorites Tondo FC’s journey to Brazil ends here, but all is not lost.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In its second year in the Philippines, Neymar Jr’s Five drew many teams in a series of qualifying rounds in Manila and Cebu. In the end, 16 teams advanced to the National Finals:<\/p>\n