UC booters end 5-year title drought

CEBU, Philippines – The University of Cebu Webmasters upstaged the University of San Jose-Recoletos, 1-0, in the sudden-death shootout to end a five-year title drought in the collegiate football event of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.  at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.

UC last won a title in 2010, coincidentally against USJ-R. The Webmasters came close to crowning glory last season but was denied by the University of San Carlos.

Projecting that the final battle will end in a shootut, UC head coach Glen Ramos prepared his wards of such eventuality and it really spelled big difference.

"It did help a lot. Practicing with a shootout scenario prepared me and our teammates for the finals," said UC's goal keeper Arvin Perez.

Superb defense by both sides resulted in a scoreless draw at the end of the regulation period. The familiarity of Ramos and his USJ-R counterpart Joselito Bono with their styles and techniques may have also contributed to that standoff that paved the way for the extension, which also ended up in a draw.

Nigerian Ene Azibataran Famous, the lone import left for UC, tried harder to get things done, but was contained by USJ-R's sitfling defense.

Famous was supposed to go to Manila for another activity, but decided to back out of it in favor of UC.

"My teammates, my school needed me so I decided not to leave and play in the final instead. This is something I will never regret," said Famous.

Both UC and USJ-R delivered well in the shootout, 5-5, forging a sudden death.

Amiel Perez, the twin brother of UC's goal keeper, scored their first goal in the penalty shootout followed by Marc Joseph Felicilda, then Famous, Aquilio Enopia and Mon Ferdinand Osorio.

Being the last kicker, Osorio made sure not to succumb to pressure and just keep his cool.

On USJ-R's side, the goals were made by Harold Daga, Anthony Bryan Tabuelog, Jestone Pialogo, Christian Nacion and Glen Frey Rigor.

Before the sudden death, Ramos reminded his no.1  goal keeper Perez to be more cautious on the right side as the kicking Jaguars have the tendency to go right.

Perez, who is more comfortable on ground balls, was lucky enough to keep his stance just fit for Jason Calunsag, who got the ball in the middle and was saved by Perez on the chest area.

"I was confident that if it goes to a penalty shootout, we are going to win because we have rehearsed that during our practices this week," said coach Ramos, who earlier steered the Don Bosco Technology Center to the secondary football crown making it a golden double on his part.

Meanwhile, John Roy Melgo delivered the winning goal as dethroned champion USC Golden Booters bested the University of the Visayas, 1-0, to settle for third place. (FREEMAN)