SACRED Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) won its second straight title after beating Don Bosco Boys Home (DBBH), 4-1, via shootout in the Boys 18 final of the Aboitiz Cup at the Cebu City Sports Center last Sunday, Dec. 16.
On the other hand, St. Theresa’s College (STC) also got past rival SHS-AdC to win the Girls 18 title also via shootout last Saturday, Dec. 15, also at the CCSC.
In the Boys 18 final, both teams were evenly matched but Ateneo got some half-chances in the early part of the first half. Christopher Osawa got free inside the box and tried to flick the ball past Benedict Tabar but was foiled.
Dave Tanjay also had a brilliant chance from a free kick but his 30-yard shot was just inches high. Minutes later, Mark Vergara let loose a left-footer just outside the box to force a save from Jack Zambrano of Ateneo.
Minutes later, Leo Maquiling, who’s nursing an injured foot, checked in for Ateneo and he made his presence felt in the 52nd, going from a long distance. The keeper deflected the ball but it went straight to Osawa, who made no mistake from a short distance to make it 1-0 for the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. champion.
Ateneo had DBBH back-pedaling after the goal but the Bosconians refused to give up and their efforts paid off after Kent Israel Perez got the better of the Ateneo defense in a goal-mouth scramble to score the equalizer just four minutes from time to force the extension.
In extra time, Maquiling got Ateneo the lead as he beat an offside trap to make it 2-1 in the 93rd minute but it was his last involvement of the game as he limped out due to his injured foot.
DBBH kept on fighting and finally found the equalizer after Delhonor Maglasang connected with Kyle James Lauron at left flank to send the match to a shootout.
In the shootout, it was Zambrano’s turn to provide the heroics. After Osawa and Jeff Leonard Labus made their spot kicks, Zambrano stopped Lauron and Angelo Banogbanog, while Hiroshi Iwanaga and Pomeroy John Veloso and Christian Lumapas converted theirs to seal Ateneo’s win.
Ozawa was named the MVP and also won the Golden Boot, while Julian Cabatingan got the Best Midfielder award. Zambrano was named the Best Goalkeeper, while DBBH’s Perez brought home the Best Midfielder award.
In the Girls 18 finals, STC had to fight from a 2-0 deficit to shock Ateneo. Ateneo was 2-0 up after Trizza Musni and Leah Berondo missed their spot kicks and Jodi Banzon and Joo Ting Kim made theirs.
Amber Villaflor ended the impasse for STC, while a miss by Rae Tolentino got STC back in contention. With the score tied at 3-3 after the first five kickers, Jan Reese Jumawan stepped up and banged in the winning goal for STC.
Jumawan was named the division MVP, while Sophia Kintanar of STC got the Best Goalkeeper award. Sydney Gonzales of Ateneo got the Best Midfielder trophy, while Musni got the Best Defender and the Golden Boot award. (ML)