By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Negros Occidental Regional Football Association (NORFA) stayed in firm control of the PFF Under-16 Visayas qualifiers after overpowering the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Regional Football Association (NOSIRFA), 9-0, to remain on top of the standings on Wednesday, January 21.

NORFA leaned on a balanced attack, led by Jerenz Nengasca and Jhon Luke Libunao, who both scored hat-tricks to pace the hosts in a match held in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City.

Nengasca earned Man of the Match honors after another dominant showing.

Van Dannielle Benia added two goals, while Zyke Nicholas Villamor completed the rout with a goal in stoppage time.

Earlier in the day, the Iloilo-Guimaras Regional Football Association (IGRFA) boosted its chances of advancing after dismantling the Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA), 4-0, to move into second place in the standings.

Joy Jamotillo, Jr. opened the scoring for IGRFA in the 26th minute before the Ilonggo side pulled away in the second half.

Substitute Gabrielle Jan Belluga struck twice in quick succession in the 40th and 43rd minutes, while Aron James Lazaro put the result beyond doubt with a 90th-minute goal.

With only one matchday remaining in the Visayas leg on Friday, January 23, the race for the two qualification spots to the national group stage is tightening.

IGRFA can secure its place by defeating the Eastern Visayas Regional Football Association (EVRFA), which would give the Iloilo-Guimaras side nine points and make it unreachable by Cebu, even if CRFA upsets top-seeded NORFA.

In that scenario, NORFA and IGRFA would both advance.

However, IGRFA could still be in danger if it loses to EVRFA and Cebu defeats NORFA.

That combination would allow CRFA to climb to seven points and overtake IGRFA for the second qualifying spot.

The final day of matches on Friday will see IGRFA face EVRFA in the first game, followed by NORFA against CRFA in the decisive nightcap./ASC, WDJ