Saturday, November 18, 2006 Cinderellas bow as Baguio boys win
YOU either eventually lose or finally win.
The gritty Baguio Cinderellas failed in their title-retention bid, but their male counterparts finally snapped years of bad luck, capturing their first crown in the open division of the Alaska Football Cup in Alabang, Muntinlupa last weekend.
The Cinderellas finished fourth among 20 teams, a rare and modest placement for a squad that dominated women's football for 15 years. On the other hand, the Baguio Tigers finally got the breaks and landed on top of 34 other squads that ended a string of unsuccessful campaigns under the seven-a-side, blitz game format.
With support from the city, through acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. and the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco), the girls will also defend their title in the Kicksand Beach Cup on November 23-24 in Olongapo.
Veteran strikers Anna Umoc-Cabanilla, Richelle Tabisula and Sheila Tabangcura led the girls to the semis after a 2-1-1 win-draw-loss card in the eliminations, behind Group F leader Alabang Grins FC2. They initially blanked Los Borrachos, 3-0, drew with University of Santo Tomas (UST), 1-1, disposed FC Sikad, 3-0, and bowed to the Grins, 3-2. They then toyed with Dela Salle U2, 3-0, to barge into the semis, against tough Davao, their former perennial nemesis.
That's when the reversal of roles with the Tigers became clear. The highly trained Davao girls outplayed the Cinderellas, 3-0, despite a kick-in by Tabangcura, which the referee ruled out. It was sweet revenge for the southern belles who succumbed to Baguio, 0-1, in overtime in the final of the 1995 Philippine Ladies Cup in Laguna.
With Romadalla Llaneta defending the goal without gloves, Baguio lost to UST, 2-3, in the shoot-out for third. La Salle 1, Baguio's victim in the championship match last year, out- pointed Davao, 2-1, for the crown.
Over at Field 12 of the sprawling grounds of the posh Alabang Country Club (ACC), the Baguio Tigers were suddenly making history. Fired up by three Sudanese brothers, the boys breezed through the eliminations: 7-0 against FC Sikad, 8-3 against DLS-HSC Dasma, 4-1 against DLSU 2, and 7-0 against Archers FC.
La Salle forced them to a 1-1 draw in regulation in the quarterfinals but pulled through with a 4-2 total after the tie-breaking shoot-out. They then took on Faith Academy, 2-1 before clobbering Nomads, 4-1, for the crown.
Six-foot-four Sudanese import Izzeldin Elhabib accounted for 13 of Baguio's 30 goal output throughout. His 25-year-old brother Bahaeldin contributed four and another sibling, Badreldin, had three.
Former elementary school standout Mark Signabon, who directed play with impressive ball trapping and passing dexterity, booted six. Victor Ngipol and Eugene Segundo added two each.
The ecstatic Bahaeldin heightened the drama by removing his shirt twice that earned him a yellow card in the semi and a red after delivering Baguio's fourth goal in the final.
Completing the lineup were goalie Omar Alinsug, Christian Lobredo, Ali Ymana, Ryan Jimenez, Van Clifford Bautista and businessman Bakshish who, at 54, was the oldest in the team. (RD)
