PAREF Springdale Titans rise again in football scene

CEBU, Philippines —  When PAREF Springdale School reignited its football program after the global pandemic, it wasn’t chasing instant glory - it was rebuilding a legacy.

At the helm stood longtime coach Mario Ceniza, a seasoned tactician with championship pedigree, yet a man in no rush.

He knew better than most: greatness is forged in patience, not haste.

Last year, the school began a quiet revolution - recruiting promising talents to reinforce its “homegrowns”, especially in the secondary division.

Ceniza, despite his decorated past, chose the long road, pushing each Titan to rise, not just play.

And rise they did.

In the new school year, the Titans opened their campaign with back-to-back silver medals at the Copa Cebu 2025 and the Munich Football Invitational Cup.

Then in August, they returned to Bacolod City and clinched bronze once more at the Brazilian Jericho Soccer Academy 11-a-side Invitationals.

But these were just preludes.

Back at the drawing board, Ceniza and his squad trained mainly with a purpose of dominating the return of the Inter-PAREF tournament in Iloilo City next month and hopefully earn the right to represent Cebu again in the Palarong Pambansa in the future.

Yet before these targets could be realized, a new chapter unfolded.

Springdale’s newly-formed 15 Under squad stunned the field during the 7s Football Cebu at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex recently, defying expectations and seizing the championship trophy.

The Titans blazed through the group stage, each player contributing with heart and grit.

In the quarterfinals, they faced Don Bosco Technological College-A where a tense 2-1 shootout win was secured by goalkeeper Mark Christopher “MC” Magsumbol.

The semifinals saw the other goalie Vaughne Matthieu Permajin taking the reins as the Titans pulled off 4-0 rout of DBTC-B.

In the championship, the Titans held the line against one of the early favorites, the Azkals Developmental Academy-Cebu, with Francis Even Bermejo orchestrating their gameplan to the letter.

In the dying moments, Ceniza made a bold switch with Magsumbol returned for another penalty shootout.

Bermejo and new recruit Chloe Jee Hingpit delivered the goals as Magsumbol denied ADA at every turn to seal their rousing 2-0 victory.

Bermejo was named Most Valuable Player, Magsumbol earned the Supreme Goalkeeper title, Naethan Rafael Ramos the Ultimate Defender, and Ceniza, the “Superb Coach”.

But it doesn’t stop there as the Titans are set to represent Cebu in the Asia 7s this November at McKinley Stadium in Taguig.

Meanwhile, Springdale’s elementary squad crushed Sacred Heart School-Hijas de Jesus, 6-1, in the North District Meet finals, punching their ticket to the Cebu City Olympics.

From silvers to golden finishes, the Titans have proven one thing: they are no longer rebuilding. They are rising.

And the best - they promise - is yet to come.