Rogelio Castillon, Jr. of ERCO FC tries to get past a USC defender in their championship game yesterday. CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO
ERCO downs USC to bag Aboitiz Cup Men’s Open title
ERCO ended its two-year title drought by clinching its third Men’s Open title with a 2-0 blanking of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in the 19th Aboitiz Football Cup, which came to an end last night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Led by its lineup composed mostly of senior high students of the Don Bosco Technical College, ERCO FC denied 5-time CESAFI collegiate champions USC Warriors from clinching their first-ever Men’s Open title in Aboitiz Football.
John Roy Melgo was named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after playing a huge role in ERCO’s win.
He scored the first goal in the 8th minute after picking up an assist from JR Castillon, who crossed the ball to the middle.
It was also Melgo’s assist when he crossed the ball from the left that allowed Julius Acre to seal the win for ERCO in the 80th minute.
ERCO head coach Glenn Ramos said that it was a big advantage that most of the booters comprising the USC Warriors used to play for Don Bosco under his tutelage.
“I emphasized to my team that although we are younger than them, we are more experienced,” said Ramos.
Other ERCO booters who bagged special awards were Joseph Kei Ceniza who was named as the Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender was Nana and Glenn Thomas Ramos got the Golden Boot for scoring nine goals in the entire tournament.
The Best Midfielder award went to USC’s Nery Vinson.