Sunday, October 10, 2010

TOUGH CHOICE TO MAKE

Published in Sun Star Cebu Newspaper on Oct. 10, 2010 Sunday issue
by Marian C. Baring & Edri K. Aznar, Staff Writers
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor


DON Bosco College (DBC) won and lost big time yesterday in two of Cebu’s biggest sports meets.

After years of futility, DBC, representing Unit 1, finally wrested the secondary football title of the 20th Cebu City Olympics after a 2-0 win over Abellana National School of Unit 9 at the Cebu City Sports Center football field.

The victory was sweet as DBC coach Glen Ramos couldn’t even recall the last time his school won in the Cebu City Olympics football, which has been the forte of rivals ANS and Paref Springdale.

However, this came at a huge expense. For playing in the finals of the city meet, they had to sacrifice their Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) semifinal match, jeopardizing any chance of defending its title.

DBC was undefeated in five games in the Cesafi and was hands down the favorite, having scored 42 goals and allowed only two in the elimination round.

But that came to naught as DBC lost by forfeit to the University of San Jose-Recoletos, a team the Bosconians beat 10-0 in the elimination.

In the other Cesafi semis match yesterday, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu beat the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 6-1.

DBC’s forfeit courted the ire of Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, who had earlier barred two basketball teams from playing in the semifinals of the Cebu City Olympics because they were still playing in the Cesafi.

Suspension

“This could merit a suspension for the next season. This is what I have been trying to prevent, that is why we did not allow the basketball teams to play their semifinals in the Cebu City Olympics. They need to explain themselves, otherwise, they will be suspended,” said Tiukinhoy.

In their defense, DBC head coach Glen Ramos said missing out on their semifinals was not intentional.

“We did not forfeit our game on purpose. It was a matter of conflict in the schedule. We have worked hard the entire season and we want nothing more than to defend our title,” said Ramos.

Ramos added the original plan was for the team to stay for the first half of the city meet final. After that, seven players will run to the University of San Carlos football field just so they will not forfeit their Cesafi match.

Ramos added their game in the City Olympics started a bit late, and had they pushed through with their original plan, the seven players would have been late for the Cesafi game.

The Bosconians’ match at the CCSC also got crucial as ANS held them scoreless. They only scored in the extension time behind Miguel Caindic and Froilan Thomason.

DBC’s win, which earned 25 points, was not enough to lift Unit 1 from the bottom of the standing. It remains at eighth place with 32 points.

However, despite losing, ANS’s 10 points padded Unit 9’s hold of the top spot in the secondary division standing with 131.5 points. Unit 5 is at second with 120, while Unit 8 is at third with 91.

In the elementary division, Paref-Springdale pushed Unit 6 to the top of the standing after winning the football final, 4-2, over Don Bosco College.

Unit 6 is now on top of with 121 points, while Unit 8 was relegated to second place with 115. Unit 1 is at third place with 97 points. (With EKA)

No comments: