THE University of San Carlos Warriors men’s football team set history after winning the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. football title via sweep after a hard-earned and last-minute victory over a gutsy University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 1-0, on Nov. 24, 2024 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Sunday’s victory came after USC’s repeat 2-0 win over the University of the Philippines on Saturday, completing a 6-0 sweep of all its matches and becoming the first collegiate team to win the title via sweep and extending its rule over the Cebu collegiate football scene for an impressive seventh straight year.
“I thought it was going to be a draw. We had a lot of chances and the team was getting frustrated as it was already nine vs. 11 as they got two red cards,” said coach Apol Barinan. “We coaches kept reminding the team to just play our game, possession play but attacking because we had the numerical advantage. The players never gave up until the final whistle. They really did their all.”
With 90 minutes and change gone, USC stopped a USPF probe at midfield and Basti Badayos calmly probe the defense for openings before connecting with Junrey Calimpusan, who sent the ball to the far post with pin-point accuracy for the historic win.
Coach Apol said the feat was what the players aimed for at the start of the season, not out of arrogance but because the players thought they’d have nothing to lose if they aim for such goal.
Coach Apol, a former member of the coaching staff of the senior women’s team, credited the players dedication and hard work for their title run and also thanked their parents for their support.
“The players really deserved it, even the subs, they were always ready to play and to give 101 percent in every game. The coaching staff too, coach Dino, coach Gary, coach Patrick and coach Jingoy, they were ready to share their ideas on what is good to the team. To the school also, especially Sir Marvin and Father Ocariza, they really gave their support to the team.”
Coach Apol also said Alan Medalla, the man who started USC’s streak of seven straight titles also played a huge part in Title No. 7. Now based in Cagayan since the pandemic, coach Apol said the former USC head tactician called her during USC’s crucial game against UP on Saturday.
“The game against UP was also very crucial and coach Alan called me and said we shouldn’t change our game plan. We had some adjustments in the 70th minute…I am really very thankful to him because he never forgot about me, it should be him who should be here.”
USC was playing UP to 0-0 draw before Aureli Acuin Gaspe struck int he 76th and 90th minutes for their fifth win, setting up the chance for the title run against USPF.
Meanwhile, UP, the surprise team of this season, will be playing USPF for the second place trophy on Dec. 1 after finishing this season at No. 2 with 10 points after a 0-0 draw with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) last Saturday.
In the high school division, it will be perennial rivals Don Bosco Technology Center and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu for the title after both teams won their matches on Sunday.
DBTC blanked USJ-R, 3-0, thanks to goals from Keanne Rudvic Dolloso (11th), Edgar Paredes IV (38th) and Ray Agustine Abuzo (56th), while Ateneo scored a comeback win against USC, 2-1, with Mark Nathan Tabon and Jared Almendras scoring in the 51st and 60th minutes, respectively. Xyrus Maraquillo scored the lone goal for USC in the 46th minute.
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