Cebu lady booters hope to end jinx

Cebu women's team soccer coach Dexter Arojado hopes to break the jinx that haunts his team in the PFF National Women's Open Championship when this year's battle takes place on August 7-12 in Dumaguete City.

As far as Arojado could recall, Cebu has never won a title yet in the National Women's Open but has claimed four second place finishes, three of which were under him.

Last year's Cebu squad was coached by Richard Montayre of which also missed the title to Davao.

This time, it's Arojado who is calling the shots again and he needs all the luck to win the battle especially that they don't have the luxury of time to prepare for the National Finals with the qualifying event which is the Aboitiz-CebuFA Football Cup just ended.

Experienced-wise, Cebu may have an advantage with majority of the players that will be fielded in Dumaguete have already been exposed in national action.

The core of the Cebu squad will be from the Queen City United (QCU) being the champion in the Aboitiz-CebuFA Football Cup.

Arojado, however, is reinforcing his team with six players from three different squads.

From QCU are Jan Salac, Remy Melgar, Carmela Opiniano, Marlou Solon, Lady Ocampo, Tes Caylan, Katrina Bejec, Angelez Velez, Mabel Guimaray, Madeline Seno and Elaine Macasero.

The addition to the team are San Roque's Carmel Colina and Iris Meca, CIS's Stephanie Sharpe, Presley Cunningham and Gabby Mercado and University of San Carlos booter Curtney Canque.

There will be 10 teams joining in the Dumaguete event including host Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, National Capital Region, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga and Cebu.

Of all the participating teams, Arojado is anticipating defending champion Davao and NCR as the toughest team in the line and he hopes they won't be bracketed in either of the two squads.