ERCO seals 3-peat

CEBU, Philippines - The Glen Ramos-mentored ERCO BRO FC consummated a grandslam feat in the men's open, while Silliman University FC of Dumaguete City emerged as the new women's champion in the 13th Thirsty Football Cup, which came to a close at dawn yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

After barely making it to the knockout stage, ERCO BRO FC through its team A fought with a renewed vigor and eventually prevailed over the equally-talented Leylam FC, 2-1, in the penalty shootout to claim its third straight title, thanks to its two Danish reinforcements.

Harris Segovia actually set up the fire for Leylam FC in the first half, but ERCO equalized the count courtesy of Nikolaj W. Sondergaard to forge a shootout.

ERCO missed its first kick, while Michael Pacite delivered for Leylam.

Kasper Nielsen, ERCO's other Danish player who is in Cebu as a teaching intern at San Nicolas, scored on his attemt to tie the score.

After Leylam's next kicker bungled his shot, Jessie Roy Melgo II went on to seal ERCO BRO's title with a goal that was left unsaved by Leylam's goalie Alex Buanghug past mindnight.

In the women's final, Silliman University FC dethroned San Roque FC, 2-0, to take home the crown.  (FREEMAN)