Sunday, December 16, 2007 USC sets up title clash with USJ-R
DEFEENDING champion University of San Carlos (USC) booked a return to the final after a 5-0 lopsided win over the second ranked Universty of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USPF) in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. yesterday at the USC-TC football field.
USC, which finished the elimination round with two draws and two losses got on board with Pomposo Atillo in the ninth minute for an early 1-0 lead over USPF, which owned a 1-2-1 card in the elimination.
Real star
However, the real star of the show was Ryan Lim as he scored a hat trick in the 45th, 72nd and 78th minutes to seal the fate of USPF. Kyle Soriano of USC also had a goal in the 67th minute.
USPF’s Michael Diano and USC’s Melvin Elle and Cliff Bacolod were all booked with yellow cards.
In the second game of the semifinals former four-time champion University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) ran over the University of Cebu (UC), 2-0.
USJR was hungry for the spot at the finals and UC was just thankful to have a second chance and hoped to proceed to the finals. But it wasn’t UC’s day after USJ-R ran them over in the second half.
UC, which finished the elimination round two draws and two losses, got the semifinal spot after Cesafi nullified the University of the Visayas’ wins for fielding ineligible players.
The last-ranked team managed to hold off the USJ-R defense before Robert Mamac stopped the drought and struck at the 50th minute to score the first goal of the game. Marvin Abelgas followed up with a goal 15 minutes after.
Red card
Meanwhile, Francis Navaja of UC and Jonathan Jamili of USJR both got yellow cards, while UC’s Norcel Hangalay was given the only red card of the game Hangalay will sit out next week’s matches.
It will be a grudge match of last year’s final match as the 2006 champion USC clashes with 2006 first runnerup USJ-R next week for the championship game. USPF will battle it out with UC for third place still at the USC-TC football field. (EKA)
