Leylam Football Club was crowned the new champion in the inter-company division of the 17th Aboitiz Football Cup after it survived San Miguel FC via a thrilling shootout, 4-3, yesterday at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) football field in barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.
The tightly contested game went into a shootout after the two squads failed to score in regulation.
Ruffy Llaurente made the first goal for Leylam FC before Michael Pacite, Manjo Mayormita and Carlo Tacusalme made their own goals.
Scoring for San Miguel FC were Boyet Elman, Gerdy Devella and Ronan De Guzman.
Despite the loss, San Miguel FC’s goalkeeper Mark Tungol was named the best goalkeeper in the inter-company division while Leylam FC harvested the rest of the special awards.
Llaurente was named the best defender, Abelardo Solinas pocketed the best midfielder award, Rene Sanchez was named best striker and Pacite brought the Most Valuable Player accolade.
Last year’s champion ERCO FC easily clinched the third-place honors after Mizuki FC lost via default.
United Health Group and Accenture FC, meanwhile, forged a championship showdown in the ladies inter-BPO division after routing respective foes at the same venue.
United Health Group nipped Lexmark, 2-0, with Jj Echevaria and Rachel Acain each scoring goals at the 19th and 24th minutes, respectively, while Accenture FC won over Eperformax, 1-0.
Glaiza Rabor delivered the winning goal for Accenture.
Eperformax and Lexmark will face each other in a battle-for-third.
In the men’s inter-BPO division, Accenture FC prevailed over NRC, 2-0, with Albert Nangkil and John Dominic Segaya finding the back of the net at the 10th and 33rd, respectively.
Timex FC tripped Lexmark FC, 2-1, in the other men’s inter-BPO division match-up, while Voice Connect eliminated Convergys FC, 2-0.