Don Bosco, Giuseppe to face off
Age group powerhouse teams Don Bosco, Giuseppe face off in Aboitiz Cup U7 finals
SIGNE-CHRIST Annxylle Sumalpong did almost everything on the pitch to tow the Don Bosco Technological Center 1 to a finals appearance against Giuseppe in the 7-Under division of the Aboitiz Cup at the DBTC pitch.
Sumalpong, the designated free kick and goal kick taker who also took the lead in throw-ins and defensive walls because of his height, scored two hat tricks in the quarterfinals and semifinals for DBTC, which will meet a Giuseppe team that eliminated DBTC A, 2-1, in the quarterfinals and routed Canduman, 6-1, in the semifinals.
In the quarterfinals, DBTC had it easy against a determined but short-manned Giuseppe 4 squad, which only had four players.
“Some of our players got sick,” said Giuseppe coach Sheeba Castañares.
Paul Abraham Mapula opened the scoring but Giuseppe quickly equalized. Sumalpong got two quick goals from two interceptions, while Gabriel James Abarquez joined in the scoring act.
It was already 6-1 at the half-time break before Sumalpong completed his hat trick, connecting from distance. Despite the disadvantage, Giuseppe proved game and manage to score three of the final four goals to make it, 8-4.
In the other quarterfinal matches, Einstein Mighty Geeks blanked Don Bosco D, 5-0, while Canduman blanked Guardian, 3-0.
In the semis, Sumal- pong nearly went from hero to heel. Trailing 3-2 in the dying minutes, he got the ball but was tripped. Fighting back his tears, he connected from distance to send the game to extra time, when he also scored from a distance to give the team the lead.
With the Mighty Geeks fighting for an equalizer, Sumalpong headed off an attempt but his header kissed their own goal's top bar. A follow-up by Might Geeks also hit the side bar, keeping DBTC ahead until the final whistle.
Today, Giuseppe and DBTC will meet in the finals at 8:30, after the battle for third between the Mighty Geeks and Canduman. ML