Sunday, November 23, 2008

JAGUARS RETAIN CROWN


Courtesy of Sun Star Newspaper (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/)
Sunday, November 23, 2008 issue
by Edri K. Aznar, Staff Reporter
Mike T.Limpag, Sports Editor
-
THE defending champion University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) successfully retained its title as it triumphed over the University of the Visayas (UV), 5-4, in an exhilarating penalty shootout in the 2008 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) college football finals at the University of San Carlos (USC)-Technology Center football grounds yesterday.
-
UV had the upper hand in the early going as playmaking midfielder Julius Acre scored a free kick in the 21st minute for the 1-0 advantage.
-
USJ-R just lacked the defensive and offensive intensity in the first half thus it went into halftime scoreless.
-
However, after an inspirational pep talk by Coach Joselito Bono, USJ-R was revitalized and striker Junjun Pintuan scored a chip-in goal just two minutes into the second half.
-
With the tight defense of both teams and fatigue setting in, the regulation and the extra period ended in a deadlock.
-
In the penalty shootout, USJ-R was first to take the shot and defender Juvan Torres was successful in his strike, while Acre also converted his shot.
-
Both teams then took turns scoring goals with USJR’s fifth kicker Robert Mamac scoring his shot for a 5-4 lead over UV.
-
However, UV’s last kicker, Jomar Labastida, failed to convert his shot as it went straight to the arms of goalie Ralph Gaite for USJ-R’s penalty shootout victory.
-
Coach Bono said after the game that they a hard time against UV in the first half because his team wasn’t as aggressive as their opponents.
-
“They were very lax on defense and they took their shots hurriedly but they recovered in the second half,” said Bono.
-
Bono also said that they had a very rough time in tournament because of the injuries and suspensions they had acquired through the games.
-
Sixth title-
“We had difficulties in this season because our team has a lot of new players and some of our players were plagued with injuries,” said Bono, who is the most successful football coach in Cesafi history.With this victory USJ-R captured its sixth championship of the tournament.
-
Meanwhile, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation took the third place honors after it edged USC, 4-3, also in a penalty shootout.
-
Both teams traded shots as their two first kickers converted their kicks.
-
USPF midfielder Valentine Ragasajo, the third kicker, scored a third goal for his team before USC star striker Kyle Soriano shocked the home crowd as his shot went wide to the left side and missed its target.
-
After Racen Siaton converted his kick, Jason Domagtoy sealed the win for USPF with a save off Sean Gacayan’s final attempt.

No comments: