NEW-LOOK USC EYES FOOTBALL 3-PEAT

Despite losing key players from last year’s champion squad, revamped USC football team goes for third straight crown

With almost half of the championship squad gone, the University of San Carlos (USC) hopes to win the college division crown of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) for the third straight year with practically a new team.

“This season is a lot more interesting because of the influx of freshmen players, those who stepped up from K-12. A lot of new faces will make the matches more exciting. USC has been preparing since July, just like the rest of the teams, and we will try to field our new players as much as possible to gain experience,” said USC coach Alan Medalla.

It’s not only the college that got revamped as Medalla is also overseeing the revamp of the whole USC football program.

“Our USC-BED team has a lot of new faces also. We also hired new coaches for our football development road map. With the help of the USC alumni—Ricky Dakay, Dr. Stanley Villacin, James Liong and Raffy Musni of Cebu Queen City FC—we can realize these new projects to fruition. USC is ready to defend its title,” said Medalla.

Only 12 players remain from last year’s championship team. And of those 12, 10 players will be leaving at the end of the season.

“Only 12 remain and 10 will graduate this school year. The rest are new,” he said. “We have the same situation with the other Cesafi teams. I have built up a team already last May. I have built up eight substitutes who can play at the same level as my veteran players.”

Some of the key players that the Warriors will be missing this season are Miguel Kwan, Vinson Nery and Pomeroy Veloso.

Last year’s runner-up, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) is also prepped up and ready to go for another shot at the title.

“We’re ready,” said USPF head coach Eleazar Toledo. “I lost both my center midfielders but I already have a replacement.”

Center midfielders Jason Devibar and Ernil Gumba are gone from the team but they will be replaced by Yemeni Jamal Mesbahi, a player from Leylam FC, and Jay Gomez.

“I expect them to work and apply what we did in training,” said Toledo of his expectation from the team.

USPF played a series of tuneups with its Alumni squad and San Roque FC.

USC bagged its third straight crown last year after a close 2-1 victory over USPF. It was also the third straight loss for USPF in a Cesafi final against USC. /