Erco-A bags 2 titles

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE veterans of Erco-A FC bucked terrible playing conditions to defend their title in the 36 above category of the 9th Thirsty Cup Football Festival at the University of San Carlos-talamban Field.

Erco-A FC backed by Philippine Air Force players from the United Football League routed Rising Sun, 1-0, in the championship match.

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The team advanced to the finals after defeating Cebu Union, 1-0, while Rising Sun eliminated Erco-B in a penalty shootout.

Don Bosco Technology Center coach Glenn Ramos showed his class and scored the winning goal of the match to earn the Most Valuable Player award.

Aside from the 36-above title, Erco-A also topped the 42-above category on goal difference against San Roque Football Club, which settled for second place.

Erco-A and SRFC both had 11 points on three wins, two draws and no loss, but the former got the title after scoring five more goals.

After the Thirsty Cup, the PAF players will be playing in an exhibition game against DBTC’s college team at 3 p.m. at DBTC field. PAF will be led by former national team members Yanti Bersales, Jeruzel Tonog and goal keeper Edmundo Mercado Jr.

Joeme Tolosa, the assistant coach and goalkeeping coach for the Philippines 16-Under team will join them as well as teammate Martin Doctora in holding a clinic for DBTC teams.

Meanwhile, the University of San Carlos girls team failed to keep the three titles it won last year after losing to the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in the semifinals of the Girls 17. SHS-Ateneo went on to win the title over Saint Theresa’s College yesterday.

However, USC managed to keep the Girls 19 title against SHS-Ateneo with five wins and one draw to top the league-type format.

Abellana National School (ANS) also bagged the Boys 19 title over USC in a penalty shootout, 3-2, while USC got even with ANS to win the Boys 17 title also via shootout, 3-1.

In the other divisions, Cebu International School upset DBTC-A to win the Players 10, 1-0, via shootout, while Barili FC beat FFA Masbate for the Players 8 title. Olles FC also beat Center For International Education to take home the Players 6 division.

Next weekend, matches will feature the ladies and men’s open divisions still at the USC-TC field.

The men’s division alone attracted close to 80 teams.