Don Bosco XI reclaims CESAFI football crown

CEBU, Philippines - The spirited Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) booters broke the hearts of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in the penalty shootout, 4-2, to seize back their throne in the secondary football event of the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season last night at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) pitch.

The two protagonists fought on an even playing field resulting into a scoreless first half. It was only at the 45th when Glenn Thomas Ramos broke the ice of the match in favor of the Bosconians.

The Magis Eagles, however, fought back with savvy, with Jun Canlas pounding on a shallow defense by Don Bosco to sink the equalizer at the 77th.

The game went to overtime as neither side could set up one good offensive play in the remainder of the regulation period.

In the extension, the Magis Eagles drew first blood courtesy of Kintaro Miagi, but Don Bosco’s Ezra Decena quickly locked the count at 2-all, thus, the penalty shootout.

In the shootout, the Bosconians showed great determination in crushing the Ateneans, 4-2, behind the efforts of Decena, Aenry Balobo, Andrei Roa and Moisel Alforque. Miguel Kwan and Kyle Silawan were the only scorers for SHS-AdC.

It was DBTC’s 11th CESAFI football crown, even as they also exacted sweet revenge at the Magis Eagles who dethroned them last year via a convincing 4-1 decision.

Earlier, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) pulled off a 4-0 whitewash of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) to take home the third place trophy.

Meanwhile, a tougher action is expected today when the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and the University of San Carlos (USC) slug it out for the coveted tertiary championship at the same venue. (FREEMAN)