Thirsty Cup - Paref foils Ateneo

By Edri K. Aznar

Saturday, February 5, 2011

PAREF-Springdale B got the breaks of the game to beat the talented Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), 2-0, in a shootout to win the Boys 12 title of the 8th Thirsty Football Cup yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.


“We respect them and their talent but luck was just on our side,” Paref-Springdale coach Willy Caballero told Sun.Star Cebu after the match.

In the shootout, goalkeeper Gabriel Villacin set the tone.


Villacin gripped the ball, closed his eyes and mumbled something before setting it down. His missile of a shot ripped past the keeper, while Ateneo missed. Jimmy Hosen scored again and ADMU misfired, paving the way for the win.


Villacin and Hosen were named the Co-MVPs.


“It was a hard-earned win because we had only little time to practice because of the exams,” said Caballero.


At the beginning of the championship match, Paref-Springdale-A got a scare as ADMU seemed to have scored a quick goal just seconds into the match. However, after assessing the situation, the referee waived the goal off because the shot came after the ball hit the top net and bounced back into the pitch. The match ended scoreless at the end of regulation for a penalty shootout.


Caballero said ADMU is a very talented team and that his squad had a difficult time against them.


“We put our heart into it from the eliminations, to the championships,” he said.


Meanwhile, the visiting SG Bank FC (SGBFC) of Dumaguete City beat Bright Academy (BA) Red and brought home the Players 8 title in another shootout win, 2-0.


SGBFC entered the finals match full of confidence because of a 9-0 domination over Hijas de Jesus in the semifinals. BA-Red, on the other hand, earned a ticket to championships by edging out Los Amigos FC, 2-1.


SGBFC and BA-Red were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation and in the shootout, Bright Red missed its first two shots.


Kenneth Villarin was named MVP.


In the other divisions, Ateneo de Cebu (AdC) won the Girls 12 category, while the University of San Carlos (USC) retained its title in the Girls 19 division. Mary Rose Du and Maritoni Trebol were named the MVPs in the Girls 12 and 19 divisions, respectively.


University of Southern Philippines Foundation bagged the Boys 19 title by defeating USC, 1-0, through an own goal. Laurel Jobel Reyes took the MVP honors.

San Carlos City dethroned Players 10 defending champions Paref-Springdale, 1-0 rout, while San Roque FC won the Players 6 crown by crushing Bright Minds, 3-0. Brian Engasta got the MVP title in the Players 10 while Lancelot Marco Colina got the nod in the P6 division.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 06, 2011.

More match reports : Cebu Daily News