The much awaited men’s open championship showdown in the 17th Aboitiz Football Cup between the defending champions ERCO Bro-Green Archers United (GAU) and last year’s runner-up Leylam FC got cancelled at the last minute because of the heavy rain yesterday.
Organizers decided to cancel the match since the football pitch of the Cebu City Sports Center was unplayable.
Cebu Football Association (CFA) vice president Rico Navarro said they have yet to decide when the rescheduled date of the championship will be.
Navarro said organizers have to make sure that the new date of the finals will be agreeable for both teams, especially since ERCO BRO GAU have players from Manila. These are former Philippine Azkals Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Paolo Pascual, Ronnie Aguinsada and Reynald Villareal. All these have responsibilities with their mother clubs in Manila.
“We have to make sure that both teams will still be at full strength during the rescheduled date,” Navarro said. “We also have to make sure that the available referees from Iloilo can officiate the match. We will set a common date for both teams. We will first talk to them.”
Before the rain started, the battle for third in the men’s open division was played and the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) ERCO BRO FC trounced sister team Don Bosco United FC, 3-0.
Jun Reña, Agustin Roa and Fred Bobby led DBTC ERCO BRO’s third place finish after they scored one goal each at the eighth, 15th and 35th minute.
The match was stopped at the 52nd minute when heavy rain started to pour.
At the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) in Canduman, Mandaue City, Accenture edged Voice Qnnect, 7-0 (1-1), in a thrilling shootout to clinch the men’s inter-BPO title.
Mark Buglosa of Accenture bagged the MVP award.