STANLEY Villacin was silent for most of the second half during the Don Sacredale vs. University of San Carlos (USC) semifinal match in the Aboitiz Cup but when his Nicko got the ball just after the half-court line at the end of extra period, he shouted, “Hala ka!”
Before that I had a series of “Hala ka diha!” the most I’ve ever said in a single match because so many things happened in that game. There was Enzo Ceniza’s crisp passing in the first half that poked holes at Don Sacredale’s defense, the exemplary plays of keepers Terrence Colmenares and Leonard Tan, both teams beautiful movement.
Curiously, I was with coach Mario Ceniza in the first half and I enjoyed learning some trivia about the players from him. Colmenares, the USC keeper who was also utilized as a striker during the Cesafi, blossomed under Ceniza’s tutelage at Paref-Springdale.
“We didn’t have a keeper then and since Terrence was already practicing as keeper, we decided to convert him,” said Mario.
I think one of the best stretches in that match was in that five-minute span in the second half when Enzo Ceniza had three great chances at goal only to be foiled by Tan’s solid play.
He went high from a distance, forcing Tan to a diving save. He tried to go low, but Tan timed his dive beautifully and caught his shot. His third attempt was for me his best. Getting the ball just outside the box, he pivoted beautifully and left his defender in his wake to take a shot from close range.
“Hala ka,” I said. But Tan was still up to the task. I think against a lesser keeper it would have been 3-0 for USC at that point.
There were some funny comments, too, from guys beside us. Wilfred Villaver, who is bald, had a glancing header that was way off target and some wise guy cracked, “If he only had hair, that would have been a goal... dili ma slide sa ulo.”
The time of the goal was officially listed at 119. but it happened way after that. After Nicko got the ball from Villaver, I knew only a parked bus in front of the goal could make him miss such an opportunity and he didn’t.
Afterwards, I heard from the match officials that the game was past 120 minutes but since it was a goal-scoring opportunity, they continued. Had USC cleared the ball at the half-court line, it would have gone to penalties.
But Nicko had other things in mind.