AdDU U15 girls champs bring home 2 titles

THE Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) didn't just bring home one championship but two titles in the just-concluded 10th Rifa Cup International Football Festival at the Colegio de San Agustin in Dasmariñas Village, Makati.

Aside from AdDU's U11 girls team, which was coached by Reynalyn Ranada Ravanes and Analou Ingles, its U15 girls squad also captured the coveted crown.

Girls U15 head coach Julio Orcasitas, who was guest in Thursday’s Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Calle Cinco Restobar along J.P. Laurel Avenue, said: "We really didn't expect to win the title since it was just the first time that our U15 girls joined the annual Rifa Cup."

AdDU beat Talisay Football Club of Bacolod City, 1-0, in the girls U15 finals behind the goal of national girls U16 mainstay Nina Arrieta, who was hailed most valuable player (MVP) of the said category.

Arrieta was said to have scored all of AdDU's goals in the six-team single round-robin format eliminations of the seven-A-Side bootfest.

It was interesting to note that AdDU also beat Talisay FC, 1-0, in the first game of the elims.

"The girls executed our game plan well and that gave us the win. Motivation? They are motivated every practice session. They never buckle down on a challenge especially in facing strong teams like Talisay FC that had the services of four national junior players. That's what I really appreciate about the girls," Orcasitas said.

Arrieta and fellow national U16 player Janna Raizel Barcemo stepped up for AdDU but their teammates Loiuse Gabrielle Del Fierro, Bea Panganiban, Bea De Luna, Maria Inah Rosales, Michaela Louise Co, Bai Drew Saimirah Datumanong, Kyra Paronda, Patricia Francisco, Johannah Adao and Therese Reyes also beefed up the team that had the services of former national women's team member Rachelle delos Reyes as assistant coach.

They also played against Miriam College, Victory-Army, Hed Center and VEN.

Orcasitas said AdDU teams are preparing for the Thirsty Cup slated February 15 to 17 in Cebu City that will serve as last out-of-town tournament for the girls before summer break.

The squad was set to resume its field training as of Thursday.

AdDU, meanwhile, suffered a 0-1 loss to Colegio de San Agustin-A, to settle for the runner-up honors in girls U13. The team was bannered by Michaela Louise Co, Kyra Paronda, Patricia Francisco, Johannah Adao, Therese Reyes, Chiyo Jan Marasigan, Bea De Luna, Denise Diamante, Ysabel Aquino, Lianne Co, Julianna Taojo and Kyana Dimaandal with coaches delos Reyes, Ravanes and Ingles.

The AdDU girls U17 finished fourth following a 1-2 defeat in the shootout opposite San Beda Alabang.