ON PAPER, Don Dosco Technological Center (DBTC) is the defending football champion in the Cebu City Olympics, but the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) showed otherwise after a 3-0 rout last Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Cebu City Olympics.

Playing with mostly the same set of players that won the title for DBTC last year, USJ-R scored its second straight shutout win in the City Olympics to get a step closer to the title.

USJ-R will next face the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department (USC-BED) with the winner earning a twice-to-beat edge in the finals.

Dustin Ramirez opened the scoring for USJ-R in the 10th minute and Angelo Colina doubled it in the 36th, converting a penalty after Antonio Tabay was slapped for a handball as he was defending Christian Agot.

Lance Alkuimo redeemed himself a bit afte stopping a one-on-one, but after Ramirez put the outcome beyond doubt with his second goal in the 62nd.

Things got worse DBTC after it lost playmaker Josh Asignar, who got a straight red for got worse for fighting with Louis Colina, who also got a red card.

In the second game, an early goal by Laurence Mendoza was enough to see USC-BED past Lahug, 1-0, for their second straight win.

Meanwhile, in the elementary division, DBTC blanked St. Theresa’s College, 4-0, while Lahug also routed City Central School, 11-0, with Nino Calinda and Vladi Gilos scoring a hat trick each.

Today, Nov. 16, DBTC and Lahug will take on each other, while STC and CCS will face off with the loser getting eliminated. The winner will face the loser of the DBTC vs. Lahug game.

In the secondary division, Abellana National School will fight for survival against Lahug, while DBTC will take on Unit 7. (ML)