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Monday, December 19, 2005
Hiroshi clinches title
By Mike T. Limpag
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
HIROSHI FC bagged the inaugural Aboitiz League Division A crown after a tough 2-2 draw with Crazy Horse FC yesterday at the San Roque Parish football grounds.
It was fitting end to a tough season, as both teams finished without a loss, and with identical 16 points, on a 5-1 win-draw card.
However, Hiroshi FC got the crown by the skin of its teeth – a single goal in the tiebreak score.
Both teams are tied in goal difference at 29, but Hiroshi has scored 33 goals, while conceding four, and Crazy Horse scored 32 goals, while conceding three.
Deserving
“Both teams actually deserved to win,” Hiroshi coach Eddie Buot said after the match.
Hiroshi workhorse Junard Aguilar took advantage of a defensive miscommunication in the eighth minute to score the first goal past Jesus Singson for a 1-0 lead.
Ranuel Colina equalized by tapping in a rebound in the 13th.
Aguilar again connected in the 24th before Ayabe Hayato’s perfect free kick in the 28th blasted past Frederick Alazas to level the match.
Hiroshi changed uniforms in the second half – going white after using blue jerseys in the first half – but the change seemed to have taken something from them as they were kept on the defensive by Crazy Horse.
Former national mainstay Joshua Fegidero – playing against his Bacolod teammates in the national open, Rocky Garciano and Jan Michael Flores of Hiroshi – found himself hounded by Flores.
On the other hand, Oliver Colina, who trained for the national pool this year, had flashes of brilliance but his shot – including a volley – in the second half was stopped by Alazas.
Prepared
Crazy Horse gave it all in the final minutes but fell short as Hiroshi held on to the draw for the title and the right to represent Cebu in the Philippine Football Federation Regional Men’s Open next year.
“We are more prepared this year and the team is also stronger,” Buot said.
Last year, Hiroshi lost in the Regional Open and failed to qualify for the national finals.
Yesterday’s championship also capped a brilliant season for Hiroshi, which won all its games this year.
It was the team’s sixth title this year after winning the Thirsty Cup, Shangrila Futsal, Aboitiz Cup, Aboitiz Champions League and the Cebu International School Friendship Cup.
In other games, Don Bosco routed Danao FC, 20-0, and University of San Jose-Recoletos beat Rugmo, 3-1.
(December 19, 2005 issue)
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