BULUA Strikers FC Girls of coach Junieto Actub upstaged the strong Higala FC Girls’ side with a 1-0 victory to capture the Girls 17 Futsal crown in the Second Friendship Cup Football Festival in Cagayan de Oro, some weeks ago, at the Rosevale School pitch in uptown Xavier Estates.
The victory however was not surprising at all as this bunch of young girls from Bulua are hardworking and have been playing together for many years now.
Someday they would win a title. And that day was on July 7, 2018 in the rain-soaked battle field of Rosevale School pitch.
The ending of the Girls 17 Futsal competition was even controversial.
Higala FC at first refused to continue their semis match vs New Camp at the grass pitch when the rain stopped. But organizers told them that the ground rules state that in case of rain, matches should be transferred to a grass pitch to avoid injuries to players on the hardened cemented basketball court.
They were also told that if they refused to continue with the match, it will be defaulted and the win will be handed to New Camp.
So after little grumbling, Higala FC relented and resumed the match and succeeded to beat New Camp.
Bulua Strikers FC after the Higala vs New Camp match, had to through the gauntlet before defeating the formidable Holy Cross side, 1-0.
Bulua Strikers FC Girls, all students of Bulua National High School under their new Principal Dr. Minda S. Rebollido PhD, needed a last-minute strike from Liezel Ann Catamco to beat Holy Cross and arrange a final showdown with Higala FC.
In the final, the Lady Strikers scored early in the 2nd minute of the first half from a strike of Jearth Apolo and defended as if there was no tomorrow to secure their first title in the Girls 17 category.
“Our hard work paid off. These girls are just amazing and they have been together for three years now since they started when they were in Grade 7,’’ said their proud coach Junieto Actub.
The girls are now in Grades 9 and 10.
The same team finished third in the Cagayan de Oro Palaro Division meet last year behind eventual champion Xavier University and St. Mary’s School. Higala FC is composed mostly of players from SMS. The XU girls of coach Don Lazo were eliminated but he vowed to be back and perform better next time.
The Lady Strikers finished the elimination round with two wins and one draw. They beat Rosevale School 2-0, and XU 2-1 but drew with New Camp 1-1 to advance to the semis. New Camp beat Holy Cross 3-0, to capture the third place trophy.
The Lady Strikers also dominated the special awards with Liezel Ann Catamco winning the MVP, Kate Binayao the Best Goalkeeper, Jearth Apolo the Best Striker, Hannah Naldo the Best Defender, and Frances Marie Clyde Sebial the Best Midfielder.
Completing the cast of the champion team are Andrea Bianca Ferrer, Pearl Marquez, Cindy Gomez, Andrea Nicole Malazarte, Louie Kassandra Dasag,, Jewel May Actub and Sophia Bianca Cabada.
The Lady Strikers will join the Carmen Fiesta Cup set this weekend at the Westridge Football pitch in front of the Country Village Hotel in Brgy. Carmen Cagayan de Oro City.
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