It may have been a meaningless goal as the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department lost 4-1, but Ed Elijah Cabahug’s lone goal against Real Galaxy changed the fortunes in the Players 10 division of the 24th Aboitiz Cup on Oct. 20, 2024.
In an exciting final elimination round, Makati FC Cebu prayed for its defense to hold on, while Real Galaxy poured on its offense.
Makati FC put up a gallant stand but lost to Don Bosco FC A, 3-1, while Real Galaxy routed University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department B, 4-1, as both teams finished at 4 points on a 1-1-1 record. Both also have a goal difference of two, having scored eight times and allowing six goals, meaning had Cabahug not scored that goal, Real Galaxy would have advanced to the quarterfinal round as the No. 2 team.
Keith Ocean Flores ended his stint in the P10 with a hat trick, while Lee Lucero had one goal for Real Galaxy.
On the other hand, Clay Pedralba scored the lone goal for MFC Cebu in the 15th in their 3-1 loss to Don Bosco FC which relied on the goals of Axl Jace Cepe (9th and 12th) and Christopher Rivera.
With the win, Don Bosco FC A sealed a top spot finish on nine points and will take on Group 4 No. 2, Sportsgen International, while MFC Cebu will face Group 4 No. 1, Bato Spartans, which sealed its top finish despite a scoreless draw with Cebu United FC.
Thanks to that draw, the Bato Spartans FC advanced to the quarterfinal round as the No. 2 team after its 7-0 win over Don Bosco FC D. Both Sportsgen and Cebu United were tied at three points going into the final day.
Arc Gabrielle Sellado had a hat trick for Sportsgen, while Brayden Levi Amatos and Jacques Mason Mapula had two each.
In Group 2, CFC Academy finished at no. 1 after beating Don Bosco FC B, 4-0, to finish at nine points. James Tagara got the first goal in the seventh, while Rene Alessandro Isidro made it 2-0 in the 15th and Marqus Simbajon and Kyrie Aurea had back-to-back goals in the 28th and 29th for the rout.
Meanwhile, Sugbu Calidad took the No. 2 spot after a scoreless draw with USC-BED, which was going for the win to advance to the knockout face.
CFC Academy will take on Group 3 No. 1, MFC Cebu White, while Sugbu Calidad will face undefeated Giuseppe FC in the quarterfinal round.
MFC Cebu made it to the knockout phase despite a 5-0 loss to Giuseppe as it finished with six points in the elims.
Meanwhile, Giuseppe finished the elimination round with a perfect 3-0 record and having scored 29 goals without conceding any.
Caleb de leon and Lucas Tada had two each, while Kylo Baunsit had one as Giuseppe advances to the knockout phase as one of the favorites in the division.