Newly-formed team of veterans tops Thirsty Cup for second men’s open title in Cebu

By Marian C. Baring

Sunday, February 19, 2012

KTEK Trading may be a new team, but it is a team to be reckoned with as it grabbed its second title for the year, winning the men’s open division of the Thirsty Cup yesterday at the University of San Carlos Football Field.

Powered by former members of the national squad, the team defeated San Roque Nawanao, 2-0, in a penalty shootout, to win the title--the team’s second this year after the Sinulog Cup.

The game ended in a scoreless draw in regulation, forcing the shootout. Jake Acre and Peter Martin Dionela sank their shots, while goalie Henderson Jay Campo stopped one shot from San Roque with the other hitting the post.

Campo was later named the Most Valuable Player for the men’s open.

Team captain Frederick Alazas said they are slowly trying to build up a strong team. Alazas played for last year’s champion Queen City United.

“We are a group of friends who formed a team to join these competitions and we hope to continue playing,” said Alazas, a former Under-20 team member.

Alazas said that despite practicing just twice a week to prepare for Thirsty, they still finished with a good result. He added that they will be doubling their efforts for the CAFC 12th Inter-Club tournament in May.

Most of the members of the team are also part of the Hiroshi squad that was banned a few years ago for getting into a fight. Yesterday, a short commotion ensued during their quarterfinals against the University of San Carlos.

Alazas said they complained about the official who was undecided about a crucial call.

“He made a call that he wasn’t even sure about and it was a very crucial part of the match. And he could no longer take it back because he already made a call,” said Alazas.

Organizer Neil Montesclaros said that the referees did a good job and complaints like these happen every day.

Meanwhile, Montesclaros and Chad Songalia said they stood firm in their decision to strip Chicos FC of the women’s open title for failing to declare in their official lineup the name of one player, Jessah Sumagpao, who later became the MVP.

The team, through a letter from Nenette Espiritu Lanza, said they expected a deliberation to be made but were surprised to find out that the organizers’ decision was final.

“This is a festival-type tournament and we make decisions on the spot. We never said they cheated. It was an honest mistake on their part. We just have to decide on it based on our ground rules. It was a lapse on their part and we even found out about it by chance,” said Songalia.

Chicos failed to place Sumagpao’s name in the lineup. After the tournament, the team suggested to give the MVP trophy to Sumagpao. It was only then when the organizers discovered the discrepancy.

“We know that there was no intention to cheat, it was a matter of technicality,” said Montesclaros.

Because of this, Chicos, a team from Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo, was stripped of the title and it was given to runner-up San Roque FC.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 20, 2012.