UV, USJ-R into finals

IT wasn't easy, but the University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) survived their tough semifinal matches yesterday to set up an exciting Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. football final (Cesafi) at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit field.

The top-ranked UV had to dig deep into its bag of tricks to survive a gritty University of San Carlos (USC) 1-0, while the four-time champion USJ-R endured a late game onslaught by the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) to advance 2-1.

To avoid a repeat of the University of Cebu walkout last Sunday, tournament manager Bro. Mari Aberasturi moved the technical bench to the other side of the field and limited access to coaches and players only.

"Last week, there were too many people, who were not with the coaching staff, but sat near (players) bench and they influenced the team to walkout," Aberasturi said.

UV and USJ-R will meet for the title next Sunday while USC battles USPF for third still at SHS-J.

It was a different USC squad who showed up in the first semifinal as it matched every move of the top seed. In their first encounter, USC lost 4-1 despite scoring first.

UV played shorthanded yesterday with Melvin Culibra serving a suspension and workhorse Junard Aguilar, who has scored nine goals in five matches, unable to play due to tonsillitis.

Kurt Acre tried to fill the void up front but his strike from left in the 26th sailed just high.

With their offense struggling, the wily Julius Acre, Kurt's younger brother, pulled one just beyond the half court mark and struck pay dirt as he hit the top right corner for a 1-0 lead in the 40th.

The younger Acre's crisp passes in the second half could have added more to the score but Junar Labastida hit the post while Josaphat Sacil's shot sailed too high.

USC got a chance in a goalmouth scramble in the 70th before keeper Frederick Alazas recovered his composure and the ball to preserve the shutout.

"I got hit after getting the ball, luckily it dropped near me and nobody was there," Alazas said after the match.

In the second game, Mark Gallardo's perfectly taken 30-yard free kick got past Oscar Lemence to put USP up 1-0 in the first three minutes.

However, Jade Paghubasan made sure there was no repeat of their 1-2 loss to USPF in the elimination as he drove from left in the 14th for the equalizer before Jonathan Sollo scored the go-ahead in the 33rd.

It was a spirited second half as USP tried to equalize, coming close a few times on Lemence's errors on his approach. Lemence mistimed the drop of the ball and left the goal unguarded but USP failed to take advantage as USJ-R took their fifth straight Cesafi finals appearance.