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Thursday, February 13, 2003
La Salle-Ateneo championship
By Patrick C. Costelo
Sun.Star Correspondent
DUMAGUETE CITY— The 19th Coke Go-for-Goal Under-16 Football national finals championship match is set with two perennial rivals vying for the title.
NCR’s Ateneo de Manila University clinched the first final slot after staggering past Cebu’s Don Bosco Technology Center, 1-0, in the semifinal round at the Silliman ballfield yesterday.
In the other crossover semifinal match, Mindanao’s La Salle-Iligan lit hopes of having a national champion from Mindanao for the first time in the tournament’s history after La Salle beat early favorite Masbate Comprehensive National High School, 2-1, in yesterday’s second game.
The opening minutes of the tussle saw both squads go all out on both ends but DBTC made one crucial defensive lapse in the 17th minute, and made Ateneo’s Ansel Kurt Alvarez slip into scoring position to deliver NCR’s first goal.
There was a heated battle in the ensuing minutes, which saw seven yellow cards and one expulsion slapped as Cebu switched the pressure on Ateneo, going full throttle for a dead heat.
Yellow cards
Cebu’s Jerome Batad was slapped a yellow in the 11th minute of play while Francis Liza got his in the 18th minute together with Ateneo’s Gregorio Cancio III after a flash of hard tackles. DBTC had two more yellows on Melvin Elle and Jaime Ebreo Jr. in the second half in the 57th and 70th minute, while Ateneo’s Vinchi Gamboa was called for his violation in the 18th minute.
Ateneo, on the other hand, revved up on defense, leaving a lone striker on the offensive end.
“It was the intention of the team to play defense. Cebu is technically far better than us when it comes to skills so we counterattacked,” said Ateneo de Manila coach Ompong Merida.
Liza, Batad and Reynel Bretaña made several attempts for an equalizer but Ateneo goalkeeper Aldus Madrangca was on the prowl to stop their shots. Insult was added to injury and the loss became an obnoxious one for DBTC when the referee missed on several crucial calls, drawing taunts from the DBTC bench and the rest of the infuriated crowd audience as DBTC made a dash for an equalizer in the second half until the end of the game.
Referee Error
“The calls were obviously delayed. I saw three instances when there should have been a penalty called when our players got tackled from behind, but there were none,” said Rey Calo of the DBTC coaching staff.
The local police had to drive referee Val Macasero out of the ballfield fearing an attack by the enraged DBTC team and their supporters.
But it wasn’t only Cebu that shed tears yesterday. Masbate was also in a mournful atmosphere after the upset by La Salle.
“Our midfield was off. We weren’t a hundred percent,” said Masbate coach Ariel Ng. La Salle’s Jemerex Sabaga delivered the stunner in the 39th minute while teammate Felip Lagrosas extended the lead in the 61st minute.
Masbate practically struggled the rest of the game but was finally able to slash past the LA Salle’s wall in the 86th minute.
Two perennial rivals clash in the 2 p.m. finals today with Ateneo Manila holding the upper hand after beating La Salle, 4-2, in the eliminations. Cebu, meanwhile, will face Masbate in the 8 a.m. game for third.
(February 13, 2003 issue)
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