ORMOC SOCCER ASSOCIATION (OSA) made its first stint in the SunStar Football Cup memorable after topping the Boys 16 division last Sunday, Nov. 25, at the Cebu City Sports Center.
OSA finished on top of Group 4 after posting a 2-1 win-draw record in the group stage and blanked Indiana FC, 2-0, in the quarterfinals to set a semis match with Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) B. In the other quarterfinal matches, DBTC B outlasted the University of San Carlos (USC) B, 3-1; DBTC E beat Uniform Solutions, 2-0 and DBTC C blanked DBTC D, 2-0.
In the semifinals, OSA and DBTC B played to a 1-1 draw, necessitating a shootout that had to go to sudden-death before Borge Canopio stopped the final DBTC kicker to set a finals duel with DBTC E, which outlasted sister team DBTC C, 1-0.
Ormoc took an early lead in the finals but Don Bosco equalized just before the break. However, with only a minute left on the clock, the visitors scored again to seal the trophy, while Canopio also earned the MVP for his shot-stopping heroics.
Don Bosco though didn’t go home empty-handed that day as it won the Boys 12 division with both DBTC E and A advancing to the finals. DBTC A topped their group with 10 points on a 3-1 record, while DBTC E finished second with a 2-1 mark.
DBTC E ended up with the title after a 3-1 victory with Andre Rafael bering earning the MVP trophy.
In the Boys 14 division, Giuseppe FC blanked DBTC D, 2-0, to win the title with Jake Gomez earning the MVP. Giuseppe beat Bohol United, 4-1, in the semifinals and also dominated St. Joseph, 3-0, in the quarterfinals.
The two-day tournament attracted over 140 teams with DBTC fielding the most entries and winning the most titles with four.
In the girls divisions, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu ended St. Theresa’s College dominance with victories in the Girls 16 and 18 divisions and a runner-up finish in the Girls 14 division. Rae Mikaella Tolentino sealed the win in the Girls 16 after making the go-ahead penalty during the shootout. (ML)