AFTER playing second fiddle to Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) for quite some time now, St. Theresa’s College (STC) finally got the top plum of the Girls Under-18 division of the 19th Aboitiz Football Cup.
STC won its first ever title in the Girls Under-18 division yesterday with a convincing 3-0 victory over defending titleholder SHS-AdC at the Magone pitch of Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC).
“This is our first time to win. This is a blessing from the Lord. We were not able to practice for the past two weeks because they had exams and then there was a typhoon. This is our first game in a span of two weeks,” an ecstatic STC head coach Jinggoy Roa told SunStar Cebu.”We used the Cesafi futsal to get our conditioning back. They get a chance to to touch the ball because we haven’t been able to practice. We even played the night before at CTU so that we will be back in form.”
Individual awardees
Forward Regina Sarrosa quickly put STC up ahead with a goal in the opening minute of the championship match. Amber Villaflor scored STC’s second goal with a well struck free kick from just outside the box that hit the top corner.
Sarrosa scored a brace in the 52nd minute with a one-on-one against ShS-AdC goalkeeper.
Blessing
STC’s defense was excellent as its back line successfully warded off SHS-AdC’s attacks, led by Itsuko Bacatan and Arantxa Trebol.
“I made adjustments because they were our last opponent in the eliminations. We adjusted our defensive formation and the players we placed on our defensive line. They are really strong and there is no doubt that they are the winners all the time. So I had to go defensive and it worked,” said Roa.”We are very happy. This is a blessing for our players and for me. And thank you for the school, for their support. Without the school, I would have no players.”
Meanwhile, Giuseppe FC (GFC) finished third place with a 12-0 drubbing of Pomeroy.
Yvette Magallanes scored six goals (2’, 33’, 36’, 47’, 56’, 78’), while Pinky Soco added four (24’, 25, 50’, 65’) to lead GFC to victory. Mish Castanares (8’) and Denise Lood (19’) added a goal each.
Sarrosa bagged the MVP honors, while her teammates Sophia Kintanar and Jan Reese Jumawan also won individual awards. Kintanar was named the Best Goalkeeper, while Jumawas was awarded the Best Defender. SHS-AdC’s Bacatan was given the Best Midfielder award, while GFC’s Magallanes and Soco shared the Golden Boot award.
On the other hand, Paref-Springdale outclassed SHS-AdC, 5-0, and DBTA thrashed Ondo Espresso, 8-1, in the Under-11 division.