FOOTBALL fans know what El Clasico is--the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona--Spain’s biggest football clubs. And,to pay homage to that, a couple of years ago, I called the Don Bosco Technical College vs. Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu match Cebu Clasico, because let’s face it, they are Cebu’s biggest rivalry.
What’s in a name? Well, it helps promote the rivalry and I’m pretty sure, given the football tradition of both schools, 10 years from now, when the current batch of players have long graduated, they’d still be rivals in the field, henc ethe name, Cebu Clasico.
Which brings me to El Kasuko--DBTC vs. University of San Jose-Recoletos on Nov. 10. That’s not Spanish by the way. And I started it as sort of a joke. The wholesale departure of one batch of players from DBTC to USJ-R came under not so pleasant terms and I always knew that the games involving the two would be heated. And it was, last year, with DBTC whimping away as USJ-R advanced to the finals for the first time.
But, as players often show, the bonds they formed as teammates are stronger. There’s no ill will, there’s no kasuko.
Still I hope there will still be an El Kasuko next year. And that’s only because I hope the rivalry between USJ-R and DBTC will continue. I know what the coaches are thinking, that after this year’s batch of players graduate, there won’t be a competitive USJ-R team. However, I hope that because of this batch of players, school management see the value of having a program that develops players from scratch and guiding them from elementary, high school and college.
The only other Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation team that is doing that is the University of San Carlos and they only started a couple of years ago, so USJ-R can certainly play catch up. Yep, DBTC has an elementary to high school program but it lacks that college component. (Though I know a few coaches would be willing to sell their right arm to be the college component of DBTC).
So I hope, the big bosses who make the decisions over at USJ-R can see the value of a long-term program, thanks to this current batch of players.
As to who I think will win the final, well, it’s anybody’s ballgame. It’s the final, it won’t matter who won their last encounter, it no longer counts. But what I like though is Josh Asignar’s metamorphosis this year.
I know the guy can score but while getting the results this year of the elimination round games, I couldn’t help but tell the tournament manager,”Kuyawa Asignar, gipakyaw man” after seeing his goal tally. Seven, a hat trick and a couple of braces? This from a guy who got red carded in last year’s semifinal? Asignar is talented. That’s why he was targeted and last year, he fell for that bait, hook, line and sinker.
“Sayon ra na gub-on duwa ni Asignar,” one coach told me. “Pa-inita ulo, di ba, di na na maminaw sa coach.”
I’m glad that this season, that no longer holds true.
After falling short in two major finals last year—Cesafi and the Palarong Pambansa—I’m sure USJ-R wants to win one and it would be a bonus if it comes against DBTC.