THE competition in the Boys 12 and Boys 14 divisions of the AboitizLand Cup goes down the wire as teams scramble for a spot in the knockout phase on Dec. 14 and 15, 2019.
In the Boys 12 division, Paref-Springdale and Giuseppe FC fight for the No. 2 spot in Group A, while Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu, Makoto and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) also battle for the No. 2 spot in Group B.
In Group A, Paref Springdale and Giuseppe will take on each other in their final group stage match with the winner taking the No. 2 spot over idle Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) C at the DBTC Tambasia field.
DBTC A holds the top spot at a perfect 12 points, while DBTC C is second at six points. Both Springdale and Giuseppe have three points each in three matches with Giuseppe enjoying the edge on goal difference.
A win by either team will catapult it to No. 2 and a spot in the semifinals since DBTC C has six points and a -9 goal difference. Giuseppe is at +1, while Springdale is at -8.
In Group B, USJ-R-Basak, Ateneo and Makoto also battle for the No. 2 spot in their final two matches in the group stage.
DBTC B leads the group after winning all its four matches, while Ateneo and Makoto have six points each along with idle Sherilin and USJ-R has three.
Today, DBTC B will close out its campaign against USJ-R with the Jaguars shooting for a win so it can get to six points with a game at hand. However, that’s going to be a tall order as DBTC-B is fresh off an 11-0 rout of Makoto Canduman in its last game with Joseph Requiron scoring four goals to seal its hold of the top spot.
Ateneo and Makoto will also face each other with the winner jumping to No. 2 in the bracket and the Magis Eagles are shooting for its second straight win after a confidence-boosting 3-1 win over Sherilin in its last game.
In the Boys 14 division, DBTC A and the Ateneo Magis Eagles will fight for the lead in Group A against each other, while DBTC B and Cebu United will also gun for the top spot in Group B but will be facing separate foes.
DBTC A got the lead in Group A thanks to its 6-0 shutout win over KNF United with John Lexter Conde scoring twice to improve to six points in two matches. The Magis Eagles also have six points in two matches and today’s winner between the two could earn a semifinal spot.
In Group B, DBTC B will gun for its third straight win against Ateneo de Cebu, while Cebu United is expected to cruise to its third straight win against Sisters of Mary School-Boystown, which has lost its last two games.
DBTC B defeated Abellana National School,3-1, last week, while Cebu United fought back twice to beat Ateneo de Cebu, 4-2, for its second straight win.
In the other Boys 14 games on Sunday, DBTC C will take on Sherilin, Giuseppe will face DBTC B and ANS will take on Cebu United. (ML)