The Cebu City Niños ruled, again, the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association for the 24th year. The domination is obvious as all the big schools with better facilities, training and support are concentrated in the big city. Coming a distant second is Cebu Province followed by Mandaue City. Bohol Province and Lapu-Lapu City complete the top five.
I watched the secondary football finals between Cebu City and Cebu Province at the Don Bosco Technology Center field at Punta Princesa. It was a match, sort of, between sister teams, or rather brother teams. Cebu City was bannered by players from DBTC while Cebu Province was manned by players from Don Bosco Boys’ Home – Liloan.
Team Cebu City broke the ice in the early minutes of the first half and after that, the boys from the province tried to equalize. It was not until a few minutes before the final whistle was blown that Cebu Province equalized from a penalty kick. The Bosconians from the city eventually prevailed 3-1, via a penalty shootout and then cheering students from the audience rushed onto the field and swarmed the victors. Then I heard the familiar chant “Wa’y klase! Wa’y klase!â€
Football is a rough sport and true to its nature, it was rugged and tough until the end. Intimidation from the city boys were aplenty and as per personal observation, the boys from the province did not return the favor. As in every game and tournament, there were lapses in the officiating. Some handballs and fouls were unseen that a linesman threatened to banish from the playing field a very vocal supporter from Cebu Province. Lapses aside, overall it was a good game.
The last time I was at the Don Bosco football pitch was about seven years ago when my son Emil was a member of the SHS-Ateneo’s football team and they had a match versus the Bosconians. To complete the story, my son’s team lost. Up to now, chalking up a win versus the Bosconians is rare, no matter which Don Bosco school it may be.
I am a Bosconian, am proud of being one and had played the beautiful game, but that was thirty plus years ago. Actually, aside from football, we also learned to play basketball, volleyball, softball and table tennis. It was football and basketball that we played most of the time but we had working knowledge of the other sports and it was fun.
During our time, as long as you can kick the ball hard and run like a rabid dog is after you, you can play football. Mango trees used to line other side of the field and when the fruits are all wrapped in newspapers, it is where the ball usually finds it mark. My skills were intramural level and was never a part of Don Bosco’s varsity teams. I tried out for the football and basketball teams but there were always other boys better than me.
It was simple then. The eleven-man team is identified as five forwards, five defense and goalkeeper. The forwards are the designated ballhandlers and scorers and they all rush forward, of course. Defense is defense, they help the goalie protect the goal. Today, each man has a specific and defined position and the game has become technical.
For Don Bosco Punta Princesa, it’s on to the National Games where the opposition is stronger and better. Don’t be heady with the victory boys, for a bigger and tougher battle still awaits you. For Don Bosco Liloan, learn from your mistakes. Maybe next year will be a good one. In victory and in defeat, fear no hardships. BOSCONIAN FOREVER!
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