Tuesday, October 10, 2006 USC eyes 1st football title
AFTER bagging just their second finals stint in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc football, the University of San Carlos (USC) are eager to nail that elusive title.
However, standing in the way of the young Carolinians are the hungry University of San Jose-Recoletos, whose four- year reign was cut short last year by the University of the Visayas.
Good fight
“We’ll give him (USJ-R coach Joselito Bono) a good fight,” said USC coach Joshua Fegidero, a former national team member who is on his second year in the Carolinian bench.
The finals will be this Thursday at the Cebu City Sports Center, after the battle-for-third between the University of Southern Philippines and UV.
Fegidero tried to appeal to Cebu Football Association Jonathan Maximo for a change of schedule as some of his players will be taking the exams, but this was turned down.
Maximo said they have already plotted the schedule for the finals and cannot grant USC’s request because it will also affect the three other teams.
Happy
“Father Vic (Uy, USC athletic director) is very happy because we are back in the finals,” said Fegidero.
The last time USC made it to the finals was in 2002, and the Jaguars pulled an easy 6-0 rout over USC for their second straight crown. Oliver Colina, who is now with the coaching staff of Cebu International School along with Fegidero, scored three goals in that win.
Fegidero is optimistic that his young wards, composed mostly of his Under-19 players plus five veterans, can do better, based on their first game against USJ-R, which ended in a scoreless draw.
“We’ve checked our mistakes and lapses in the first game,” said Fegidero.
Another thing counting for Fegidero is that USJ-R will play minus Franco Cedullo, who got red carded in the semifinals and could also miss the deadly Jade Paghubasan, who was rushed to the hospital for an injury.
“Our team is intact for the finals,” said Fegidero.
In the semifinals, Fegidero had to rest Pomploso Atillo, who was still nursing a fever.
Recovered
Fegidero said Atillo has recovered fully and expects him to give his 100 percent performance for the finals.
Meanwhile in the battle for third, history also sides with USPF, as it earlier fought to a 2-2 draw with UV in the elimination round.
Also in 2002, USPF also defeated UV in the third place playoff. (ML)
