Lapu-Lapu City Heroes shine at 8th Ateneo Cup

CEBU, Philippines — After securing the Under 17 crown during the inaugural C-Bros Football Festival, the Lapu-Lapu City Heroes lifted another championship trophy.

This time in the younger age group.

Fueled by the outstanding performance of Spencer Sven “Pensor” Lomadilla, the Heroes reigned supreme in the Under 9 division of the 8th Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Football Cup recently.

Lomadilla sank the game-winner as the Heroes downed Giuseppe FC, 1-0, to kick-start their bid on a bright note. He scored another goal in their 3-0 thrashing of Cebu Football Club B, before the Heroes stretched their perfect record to 3-0 with a 1-0 beating of Team Magis.

In the knockout stage, the Heroes under the guidance of coaches John Dave Regner, Khent Vincent Sotto, Joseph Estremos, and Rylle Ancajas showed iron nerves in posting back-to-back victories via penalty shootout.

They first escaped past Cebu United, 3-2, with Lomadilla, McJohnston Singh and Xavier Cyn Arong hitting their targets. The trio also delivered the goods as the Heroes booted out Sugbu Calidad, 3-2, on penalties to set up a gold-medal battle against Cebu Football Club A.

In the finals, Lomadilla capped his remarkable play by darting in the title-clinching goal for the Heroes.

“I am happy to be part of the winning team and for scoring the winning goal,” said Lomadilla.

Aside from Lomadilla, Singh, and Arong, the other members of the champion squad are Daren Himaya, David Gad Inso, Seth Daniel Gacrama, Alexa Tumulak, April Tumulak, Eyana Rhaine Brillo, and Paul Mavy Pajora.

In the Under 11 category, the Heroes A made it to the Final Four.

Bannered by Devin Jasper Gildo, Juan Iñigo Yu, Josiah Christian Peligrino, Scott Nathaniel Sucia, Mark Daniel Bacla-an, Asriel Josh Heredia, C-Raghnall Bendaño, Kenshen Artajo, John Raumar Nuñez, Dovin Shin, and Austin Tyller Arong, the Heroes A rolled past Canduman FC B, 4-0 and Don Bosco C, 3-1.

They suffered a 1-2 loss at the hands of host Ateneo before fighting to a 1-1 draw with DB Liloan at the end of the group stage.

In the round of 16, the Heroes A eliminated their sister team Heroes B, before Gildo powered them to the semifinals.

However, the Heroes, coached by John Dave Regner and Khent Vincent Sotto, failed to reach the finals after bowing to Sugbu Calidad, 0-2.