Aboitiz Cup MVPs learn to balance sports and studies while having fun on the field

CEBU, Philippines — The promising young booters Sebastian Lee of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) and Gianluca Arnulfo Capacite of St. Benedict Childhood Education Center (SBCEC) are filled with joy for having showcased their skills in the Aboitiz Cup, one of Cebu’s biggest football tournaments.

Lee and Capacite have all the reasons to be happy about. They were named Most Valuable Players after leading their teams to championship glory.

Lee scored a brace as the SHS-Ateneo Magis Eagles downed Giuseppe FC 4-1 to secure the Players 6 crown of the 26th Aboitiz Football Cup at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex recently.

For his remarkable performance, Lee bagged two major accolades as MVP and Best Striker.

Capacite, on the other hand, played a key role as Sugbu Calidad beat SHS-Ateneo 2-1 to clinch the Players 8 title. He romped away with the MVP trophy.

Grabbing the MVP awards brings a lot of excitement and serves as a confidence-booster for Lee and Capacite.

“I’m really happy and excited,” said Lee. “I always try my best every time in practice and tournament.I never give up.”

Capacite feels the same. “I’m super happy. What made me win the award is not giving up and applying what I have learned from my training,” he said.

More than winning titles, the most important thing is that Lee and Capacite learn this early how to balance sports and studies and at the same time understand the value of teamwork.

“My mama helps me with my schedule so I still have time to study and time to train. I want to do my best in both,” said Capacite, who wants to play in a professional club someday.

Lee shared:”My mama and papa always tell me to finish my homework first before I can play. I love soccer and playing with my teammates, so I finish my homework first.”

“My papa says awards are nice, but our team’s success comes first,” added the SHS-Ateneo first grader.

With the guidance of their coaches and the full support and encouragement of their parents, these aspiring footballers will certainly gain important life lessons along the way in their athletic journey that will not only equip them to become better individuals as they grow up but also help lay down the bedrock of a brighter future ahead of them.