Monday, August 27, 2007 ‘Divine intervention’ helps Dads in Mizuno
THE Dads United kept their 36-above crown in the Mizuno Cup yesterday after repulsing the Hiroshi FC, thanks to a different kind of “dad”—a French priest.
Fr. Gregory Plus, a priest based at the Community of St. John in Banawa, banged in the lone goal in the 10th minute for Dads United 1-0 win over Hiroshi in the final yesterday.
“He is the dad of all of us,” said one member of the team after their victory.
The team is a mixed bunch of former collegiate stars and weekend warriors who learned the game, or got reacquainted with it, while watching their sons play in numerous tournaments—hence the name Dads United.
In yesterday’s final, Hiroshi got the first shot at goal two minutes in but Harou Iwanaga, the owner of the team, missed on his left-footed flick just inside the arc.
Dads United got their first chance with Kengo Tanaka’s long effort but keeper Ace Mangohid was up to the task and caught the shot.
As both teams kept on pushing for the goal, Plus finally struck as he got to a looseball before Mangohid and a simple turn and flick got the ball to the net for the lone goal of the match.
With only minutes left in regulation, the Dads concentrated on defense, while Hiroshi’s hurried shots never threatened Stanley Cinco at goal.
Meanwhile, the University of San Carlos plucked three titles yesterday after ruling the Boys and Girls 19-Under and the Women’s Open .
Kyle Soriano scored the lone goal in the Boys 19 final for USC’s 1-0 win against UC, while Apple Bariñan and Courtney Canque provided the firepower in their 4-0 win over University of the Philippines in the Girls 19 final.
USC topped the elimination with a 3-0 win-loss mark, the only team to manage to score a win in the group phase as the rest only managed draws.
All USC
The Women’s Open was also an all-Carolinian show after USC A defeated USC B, 3-0, to take the crown. Both teams finished at first and second in the single-round robin elimination phase.
The Abellana National School also showed the quirks of the shootout after beating Paref-Springdale, 2-1, to rule the Boys 17 final.
ANS showed up with the same team and had the same set of kickers who lost to Springdale in the Boys 17 final last week at the San Roque Cup.
The San Roque Football Club also captured a second title, this time in the Girls 17 class after outlasting CIS in the shootout.
Meanwhile, the Mizuno team also played in a series of exhibition matches in the 36-above division with national youth team members Michael Sharpe and Paolo Cagalingan seeing action. Others who suited up for the team were Loveli Gopez, the president of Mastersports Corp., Dexter Arrojado and Dr. Wendell Villacin, the exclusive dealer of Mizuno in Cebu. (ML)
