Cebuano booters start hot in Women's Open

Sheer determination coupled by a stroke of luck placed the Cebuanos in the winner's list in the opening day of the 2006 PFF National Women's Open Championships at the Silliman University Football field in Dumaguete City yesterday.

The first runner-up finisher last year, the Cebu squad is represented by Cebu Amateur Football Club-Queen City United.

The Cebuanos were off to a hot start as they gobbled up Iligan City, 2-1, to win in Bracket C.

Presley Cunningham, a reinforcement from the Cebu International School, lived up to expectations after breaking the ice in the 12th minute to bring Cebu to the top, 1-0.

What was conceived as one easy win for Cebu, however, didn't came in handy as Iligan managed to put up a good fight, leveling the the battle in the 30th minute of the first half.

With 1-all going into the final half, the Cebuanos made several attempts until Gaby Mercado, with a stroke of luck, took a deflection off Iligan's goalie placing the game in the hands of the Cebu squad, which is coached by Dexter Arrojado.

The JT Steel-supported Cebu representatives in the National finals will be facing host Dumaguete next.

The Cebu-Dumaguete battle is set at 8 am today with the a big number of football-loving town folks from Dumaguete expected to come and support their team.

But with the win today, Cebu coach Arrojado is hoping the girls could deliver well again, no matter how the crowd reacts in the today's game.

Cebu will be facing Sultan Kudarat tomorrow.

Under bracket A are defending champion Davao, Zamboanga, and Oriental Mindoro while bracket B will have Negros Occidental, the returning National Capital Region, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.