Cebu Football

(This story came out in Sun.Star Cebu's March 7 edition) WEEKS of hard work for some of Cebu’s best young footballers will finally be put to the test today as they join the Festival of Football in San Carlos City. The Cebu Football Association started the tryouts for the Boys 12 and 14 and Girls 14-Under teams six weeks ago to identify the players who will represent Cebu in the Philippine Football Federation-organized meet. Other FAs from the Visayas will also field teams and from the pool, they will select the representatives for the Visayas for the national youth squads. “We held a tryout last Feb. 2 and since then, we’ve had training sessions every day at San Roque from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,” said coach Antonio Trebol.

(This story came out in Sun.Star Cebu's Jan. 19 edition) WITH the national finals at hand, Erco-Bro Nationals got a much-needed boost in their campaign in the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Smart Club Championships after beefing up their roster with six players from two United Football League clubs. Erco-Bro National added on loan former Azkals star Chieffy Caligdong, ex-Azkals striker Ian Araneta, Cebuano Paulo Pascual, Azkals Under-23 team member Ronnie Aguisanda, Reynald Villareal and Mark Ferrer.

(For original story, click here) ST. Theresa’s College (STC) C didn’t have a picture-perfect performance in the group stage just barely getting into the quarterfinals. However, STC C won matches when these counted and eventually brought home the crown with a 1-0 win over Tabor Hill FC in the Girls Under-18 championships last Sunday at the Cebu City Sports Center football pitch in the 3rd Sun.Star Football Cup. (The STC girls celebrate with their trophy--contributed foto by Jinggoy Roa)

(This is my story for the second day of the Sun.Star Football Cup. O riginal story here ) ATENEO de Cebu bagged two crowns last Sunday, while sister clubs Giuseppe and Leylam FC surprised traditional powerhouse Don Bosco late Saturday in the 3rd Sun.Star Football Cup. Ateneo de Cebu of coach Totot Colina leaned on the heroics of sub keeper Julian Cabatingan to beat Phoenix, 3-1, via shootout for the Boys 13 title. Cabatingan had two saves in the shootout, and also had two stops in their 2-0 win over Los Amigos in the semifinal round. (The Cebu City Sports Center field---or what's left of it)

IT WAS the nightmare in 2011 all over again as University of San Carlos (USC) once again denied the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) the collegiate crown of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation (Cesafi) football tournament. After a 3-3 draw in regulation, USC beat USPF, 5-3, via penalty shootout, repeating their 6-5 win in 2011. This year was USPF’s perfect opportunity to snag the title and the Panthers seemed headed that way after Christian Millebo took advantage of a miscommunication by central defender Allain Abella and goalkeeper Jupre Aparece to score the opening goal in the 16th minute. (To read full story. Please click this link )

(This is my story for Sun.Star Cebu's Oct. 4 edition) A DEFENSIVE adjustment paid offensive dividends for University of Cebu-Erco, as it routed the visiting University of Mindanao-Tagum, 5-1, in their final match of the Group D qualifiers of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Smart Cup Club championships in the Cebu City Sports Center. UC-Erco finished the qualifiers with six points on two wins, and will advance to the quarterfinal round along with Group E winner, Laos, which also scored a 5-1 win over Cagayan yesterday.

(Here's the banner story for sports in Sun.Star Cebu's April 1 edition) HERE'S a piece of good news to skaters--the Department of Public Works and Highways will raze the iconic Fuente Osmena circle  and turn it to an Olympic Skating Area. DPWH Region 7 spokesperson Beigh No Ang said the national goverment has allocated P10 billion for the project, which was conceptualized  when Cebu City traffic personnel announced that they would start apprehending skateboarders and roller-bladers in the highways.

(This news will come out in the special edition of Sun.Star Cebu. I will post link once available) TO HELP curb violent incidents that marred their tournament last month, organizers of the Aboitiz Football Cup will add two divisions to their tournament next year--the pinweight and pinhead divisions. Last month's Aboitiz cup tournament was marred by a free-for-all between two 18-under teams that was aggravated when some spectators-- including a parent--joined in the fray.

(This came out in the March 30 edition of Sun.Star Cebu ) COACH Glenn Ramos and the Don Bosco Technological Center added another title to their growing collection after winning the Under 23 division of the Aboitiz Cup. Don Bosco leaned on the golden boot of Christopher Ngwanta for their 5-0 win over Subangdako in the finals, completing their undefeated run in the division. Ngwanta, the top scorer in the tournament, needed only 37 minutes to complete a hat trick.

THE best of Cebu sports will again be feted in the annual Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Beer Sports Awards on March 26  at the Ayala Activity Center. The Cebuano world champions in boxing, taekwondo and billiards, as well as rising stars in the PBA, will be feted this year for their achievement in 2013.

The search for the next coach is over and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has found its man. National team manager Dan Palami has chosen Thomas Dooley as the next head coach of the Philippine national team, which will see action in the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in May.

TEAM Visayas swept the elementary and high school football fans in impressive fashion, routing their foes in the final day of the Milo Little Olympics National finals. The elementary team, represented by the Don Bosco Technological Center of coach Joselito Bono, scored a third straight shutout with a 6-0 win over Mindanao to finish the tournament with nine points, five points clear of second placer Mindanao.

CHIEFFY Caligdong showed up with his golden boot to tow Erco FC to an easy, 6-2, win over the Hijos Del Pueblo in Group B action of the 13th Cebu Interclub Football Cup men’s open division at the Cebu City Sports Center. The win puts Erco, which lost to Cebu Queen City United (CQCU), 5-0, last Monday to second spot in their group with six points, trailing CQCU on goal difference.

PHILIPPINE national team head coach Michael Weiss has signed the contract extension to handle the team for six months, more than six weeks after his initial two-year contract expired. Without going into details of the new deal, Weiss said the contract calls for an extension if the Philippines makes it to the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 in Maldives. "If we qualify, I will still be in charge until July 2014," Weiss said in a phone interview.

Girls 17 Group A               W      D     L      P       GD USC       3 - - 9 18 Ateneo de Cebu    2 - 1 6 16 CIC-Mandaue        1 - 2 3 -11 CIS                - - 3 0 -11 Bracket B      W D L P GD STC               3 - - 9 14 SRFC       2 - 1 6 15 Bright       1 - 2 3 -18 South Hills        - - 3 0 -11 JESUSSEAN Gerobiese scored the lone goal in USC's 1-0 win over Ateneo in Group A of the Girls 17 division.  If the competition will use the crossover semifinals format (I'm so out of touch, I don't know whether they do), USC will face San Roque FC in the semifinals, while Ateneo will take on Group B no. 1 St. Theresa's Colleg...

Players 12 standing as of Feb 9 Bracket  A W D L P GD Bright                  4 - - 12 17 CIS                     3            -         1 9 14 Springdale 2 - 2 6 24 BMALV 1 - 3 3 -23 CPMS -              - 4 0 -33

Players 10 standings as of Feb. 9 Bracket A           W D L       P GD Canduman 4          -         - 12 22 Warzshocks 3         -         1        9      22 BMALV 2 - 2       6 0 Don Bosco          3 1 3 3       -8 CPMS - - 4 - -35

Players 8 Final standings  Bracket A W D L P GD BMALV 4 - - 12 12 * Bright A 3 - 1 9 15 Springdale A 2 - 2 6 -3 Don Bosco A 1 - 2 3 -13 Don Bosco  2 - - 4 - -11

Boys 17 standings as of Feb. 8 Bracket A W D L P GD Don Bosco 2 - - 6 24 CIS                     1 - - 3 1 USC BED 1 - 2 3 -3 DB Razkals - - 2 0 -21

Boys 14 standings as of Feb. 8 Bracket A           W D L P GD Springdale A 4 - - 12 18 Ateneo A 2 1 1 7 14 Canduman 2 1 1  7 5 Don Bosco 1 1 - 3 3 -4 H.  de Jesus - - 4 0 -34