Baby Panthers book last semifinal ticket in Cesafi football

Booters from the University of Cebu and University of San Jose-Recoletos battle for the ball in yesterday’s action of the Cesafi football tournament at the Cebu City Sports Center football pitch. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

THE University of Southern Philippines-Foundation Baby Panthers (USP-F) secured the last semifinal ticket after they clobbered the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, 8-1, in the Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) football tournament yesterday at Cebu City Sports Center.
Luis Aguilar powered USP-F’s one-sided win by scoring three of his four goals in the first half, allowing the Baby Panthers to take a 3-1 lead into the final head.
John Flores accounted for the Baby Jaguars’ lone goal in 36th minute.

Contributing goals for the Baby Panthers were Ivan Quano (54th, 64th minute), Jose Basiga and Karl Gabi.

After the easy win, an uphill task awaits the Baby Panthers as they will play the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu Magis Eagles at the start of the semifinal round.

The Magis Eagles leaned on the heroics of Leo Maquiling to nose out University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department (USC-BED), 3-2.

Maquiling scored the first goal of the match at the 30th minute but USC tied the game when Antonio Alazas found the back of the net at the 46th.

Maquiling came up with another goal a minute later to get back but Lyon Soco answered with his own goal at the 66th to force a 2-2 tie.

But Maquiling was not done yet, scoring another goal in the extra period, sealing the hard-earned win for the Magis Eagles.

Secondary semifinal matches start today with the Don Bosco Technology Center Baby Greywolves (DBTC) battling  USC-BED at 8 a.m followed by the SHS-AdC-USP-F encounter.

In the collegiate division, USJ-R the University of Cebu Webmasters forced a 1-1 draw, while USC and USP-F settled for a scoreless draw.