UC SHOOTS FOR FIRST CESAFI TERTIARY FOOTBALL CROWN SUNDAY

Published in Cebu Daily Newspaper on Oct. 15, 2010 Friday issue
by Mars G. Alison, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor

THE University of Cebu (UC) can't seem to get enough of making CESAFI history as it guns for its first ever collegiate football title against defending champions University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) this Sunday at the University of San Carlos Technological Center (USC-TC) field in barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

After clinching its collegiate basketball title against 9-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) last Tuesday, and notching their 10th straight titles in table tennis and athletics, the Webmasters this time channel their energy to football.

The team is coached by Glen Ramos.

UC is a powerhouse in athletics, basketball, swimming and table tennis but never in football.

So it was a huge surprise when the team which only won one of its four elimination assignments, conceding eight goals and managing to score only three advanced to the finals.

UC did it by squeaking past elimination round leader University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 4-3, in a match which required a 20-minute extension after it ended in a 2-all draw in regulation.

For the longest time in CESAFI football history, the Webmasters have permanently fallen at the bottom rung.

Bernard Ricablanca, UC athletic director, said they hope for the best for their football team but that they are not in a hurry, mindful that they will go up against the defending champions.

“Just like in basketball, we waited for nine years. There is a timing for everything but we will always hope for the best,” Ricablanca said.

Known in the tournament as the “best dressed” team, the UC booters – should they beat the Kicking Jaguars this Sunday – might as well end up as the best performing team in Cesafi football.