CRUCIAL PENALTY SAVES DBTC VS. USPF
Defending champion DBTC avoids second straight loss, salvages draw with USPF; Ateneo, USC keep hold of top two spots
Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department (USC-BED) solidified their hold of the top spots, while a crucial call saved Don Bosco Technological Center against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) high school football competition at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Ateneo reminded upstart USJ-R that the new kids on the block may have stunned DBTC last week, but it still has the Magis Eagles to contend with, blanking the Jaguars 3-0 for their third straight win. On the other hand, USC-BED, with Dino Musni at the helm as head coach Allan Medalla is on leave, also picked up an easy win against guest team Sisters of Mary Boys Town, 4-0. Ateneo leads the standings at nine points, while USC is next at six points.
However, it was the second game between USPF and DBTC, a perennial favorite who is fielding players mostly a year younger than the cut-off, that had all the drama.
Trevor Lood, Charles Unabia and Christian Pacaña all had their chances early in the first half but their shots sailed harmlessly or went straight to keeper Mark Dalumpines. USPF also had a shot in the first half with Homer Alojacir finding Dave Arizala but the DBTC defense quickly cleared to keep the scoreline 0-0 at the half.
Early in the second half, Unabia beat his defender but his shot from an acute angle was way off mark. He also had another chance with a give and go from Josh Asignar but his final effort was more of a threat to the birds than the USPF goal. USPF also got its best chance in the 75th with a teasing shot just outside the area forcing DBTC custodian Lance Alkuimo to a diving save.
Then the game took a couple of twists. After winning a corner, an unmarked Cyril Castañas banged in an open header for the first goal with only eight minutes left in regulation.
As it stood, a second straight loss would have put DBTC’s title defense in jeopardy as it would have stayed at last place, with games against undefeated Ateneo and No. 2 USC-BED and guest team SMS Boystown left.
But as USPF head coach Eleazer Toledo was instructing his players to hold the lead, DBTC had a quick restart. Uriel Villacarlos outpaced the defense and only had Dalumpines left to beat. The two seemed to both have gone for the ball but after a clash left Villacarlos sprawled, referee Levi Saballa, who was about 10 paces away, quickly pointed to the spot kick to the exasperation of Toledo.
“It was a 50-50 situation, ref,” Toledo screamed as he threw his arms in frustration at the sideline.
Sabella stuck to his decision and Asignar calmly converted the equalizer.
DBTC could have gone ahead late after Pacana won the ball from midfield but his final shot sailed straight to the keeper.
In the first game, Pablo Fernan scored in the third minute, while Frank Mendoza had a brace in the ninth and 46 minutes and SMS Boystown’s Raymark Sasi gifted USC with an own goal in their 4-0 win, USC’s second after a 2-1 win over USPF last week.
In the third game, two late goals cut the fight out of USJ-R as Ateneo stayed perfect. Christopher Osawa scored in the 34th, while Leo Maquiling made it 2-0 in the 85th. A minute later, Roygen Barro put the conclusion beyond doubt with a third goal.
At first and second, both Ateneo and USC look headed for a sure semis appearance, while the last two spots are expected to be contested by USPF, USJ-R and DBTC. USJ-R is third at four points, while USPF is fourth at two points. DBTC is fifth at 1 point but has three games left to the two of both USPF and USJ-R. /