The Adobo Plate promised the goals and it delivered, with the sweetest of passes! The agency teams arrived in full color, creative jerseys, and the best of moves.
With 5-a-side, 25-minute round robin matches on two fields, the games provided excitement on either sides spectators and cheering supporters never found a minute of respite.
DM9 JaymeSyfu led early on, winning all their matches with a rain of goals, led on by drill-sergeant coach Ebong Joson wearing a Massa-Brazil jersey that would have put Sir Alex Ferguson to shame.
< height="375" width="500" align="middle" alt="" src=" DM9-execs. " />
Ace Saatchi & Saatchi and Ogilvy played with consistency, as did BBDO Guerrero and Publicis Manila. McCann, as well made a few goals.
The day was beautiful for the games, the sun cooperated and clouds perfect. The Adobo Plate matches provided all the necessary heat. And so did the players.
< height="350" width="347" alt="" src=" bbdoG-female-v-saatchi. " />
< height="311" width="500" align="left" src=" caloy-DM9(2). " alt="" />
< height="435" width="500" align="middle" alt="" src=" DM9-v-jwt. " />
< height="309" width="450" align="left" src=" publ-v-mccann. " alt="" />
The ladies played as strong as the men, both in midfield and as strikers. Celine Lopez of McCann, Isa Garcia of Ogilvy and Katrina Encanto of JWT made goals in their early matches. Encanto was awesome on the pitch, barking orders and making the passes.
< height="306" width="350" align="left" alt="" src=" jwt-females(1). " />
Equally impressive were female keepers. Niña Cruz of JWT looked every bit the keeper, one arm resting on the overhead post, screaming “Defense!” not unlike Iker Casillas. Cruz has years of experience from Poveda to Ateneo. Goal-scoring Celine Lopez was a standout keeper, as well.
< height="600" width="450" align="left" alt="" src=" nina-cruz-jwt(1). " />
< height="467" width="350" align="left" alt="" src=" celine-lopez-mccann(2). " />
During the BBDO Guerrero and Ace Saatchi & Saatchi match, the Saatchi keeper hit the ground, eliciting from David Guerrero the heckling that always comes with the games. “That’s drama! Famas Award! Famas Award!,” he yells in his British accent. It was a surprise he didn’t shout “BAFTA! BAFTA!”
< height="291" width="300" align="left" alt="" src=" brandie+david-BBDO-G. " />
Still on the same game, Tonypet Sarmiento went down and stayed down. Concern all around, there was a call for a medic. Guerrero turned around and asked, “Do we have one?” No medic coming, Sarmiento, the trooper, rallied on. His team won the match 5-4.
< height="338" width="450" align="middle" alt="" src=" publicis. " />
< height="335" width="500" align="left" src=" tonypet-v-bbdoG(1). " alt="" />
The drama of football hit hard as goal-leading DM9 suffered an upset against Saatchi in their semi-final match. “It was a bizarre game. I don’t know how we did it,” said an ecstatic Bob Guerrero of Saatchi, after winning 2-nil.
Also with a 2-nil score, Ogilvy prevailed over Publicis Manila on the other semi-final match. With Saatchi as 1st Runner-up, DM9 ended up 2nd Runner-up after beating Publicis.
Pressure piling it was, as Ogilvy and Saatchi battled it out for the coveted Plate—and Ogilvy prevailed, winning 2-1. Tight game, it truly was, played by deserving champions on both sides.
“The games were fantastic! They were played in good spirits. Ogilvy is a great winner,” says good sport Bob Guerrero.
< height="400" width="300" align="left" alt="" src=" migs-ramos. " />
The Adobo Plate also awarded individual players. Best Goalkeeper was Niña Cruz-JWT, and Best Midfielder was Miko Quiogue of DM9 JaymeSyfu. Best Defender was Arvin Sanchez of Ogilvy. The Golden Boot Award went to Ebong Joson, DM9 draft.
Best Team Jersey went to JWT.
< height="261" width="400" align="middle" alt="" src=" ebong-DM9-v-jwt(2). " />
< height="315" width="450" align="left" src=" liverpool-fans-ed(1). " alt="" />
< height="347" width="400" align="left" src=" isa-garcia+teammate-ogilvy(1). " alt="" />
From its launch in 2008, this year’s Adobo Plate had more teams, and a deeper bench—plus more WAGs and cute kiddies as accessories—looking to equal any league match, anywhere. Next year, it’s the ULTRA!
The Adobo Plate 2009 official sponsors are: adobo magazine, Pepsi, Studio 23 and Balls TV, the Official FIFA sponsor and distributor of U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009.
