A UV player walks past a USC team celebrating its victory in the Cesafi men’s football tournament. USC defeated UV, 1-0, for its third straight Cesafi title.
TONEE DESPOJO
The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors showed what champions are made of after clinching the 2018 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) tertiary football title despite missing three of their players who each picked up two yellow cards.
“We were already expecting to miss some players in the finals because we’re used to that already. That is why my players, they play multiple roles, so we were already able to simulate missing players,” said USC head coach Allan Medalla, whose Warriors defeated the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Booters, 1-0, yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center for their third straight crown.
Pyke Tinoy scored the winning goal for USC in the 76th minute.
This is USC’s sixth Cesafi title. It also won in 2006, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2017. UV was trying to end a 13-year title drought.
USC was missing Aldrich Pelenio, Andrew Pelicano and Bertram Musni, who were serving their suspension for picking up their second yellow card during their last elimination game against University of San Jose-Recoletos Kicking Jaguars.
USC would have been missing four players but Angelo Ouano was able to play after serving his community service last Saturday during the football competition of the Cebu City Olympics.
The Most Valuable Player honor went to USC midfielder Christian Keen Agot while teammate Steven Patalinghug was named Best Midfielder.
UV bagged three of the special awards with striker Kenneth Vargas being named as the top goalscorer for the third straight year.
He had a total of six goals this season. His teammate, Kim Omus, was named Best Goalkeeper, also an honor as he used to be a forward. He was just trained for the position so UV could have a goalie. And, Marlou Bongator was named as Best Defender.
USJ-R finished third place following its 12 points equivalent to 3-2-3 win-loss-draw record.
Unlike the secondary division, the tertiary follows a league-type format with the top two teams advancing to the finals and no battle for third. The third placer is determined via the rankings after the second round of eliminations.
UV head coach Alex Ballesteros said he is happy with the performance of his boys.
“I am not disappointed. Despite the many problems, the boys still played hard,” said Ballesteros.