The University of the Philippines Cebu and San Roque FC opened their Women’s Open campaign of the 24th Aboitiz Cup with one-sided victories on Nov. 9, 2024 at the Don Bosco Cebu Football Grounds.
UP Cebu routed Arkiteks United, 6-0, while San Roque FC welcomed Celaros FC with a 5-0 rout to take the top two spots in the event that uses the league-type format.
Pinky Soco opened the ledger for UP in the second minute, while Gabrielle Rivera added a goal three minutes later. Arkiteks’ defense manage to hold UP off in the next 29 minutes before Juliana Marcojos and Krystel Mae Longkit scored back-to-back goals in the 34th and 38th to make it 4-0 at the turn.
In the second half, Destiny Empaces and Kimberly Globa scored one each five minutes apart to complete the rout as UP Cebu took temporary hold of the top spot on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Selina Fernan struck early for San Roque in the fifth before Celaros managed to tighten its gaps to hold the favorites to a 1-0 score at halftime.
However, disaster struck in the second half as Celaros conceded four goals in a 13-minute span. Aubrey Velasquez scored a minute into the break, while Christine Mantos added hers six minutes later. Leia Cepeda made it 4-0 in the 54th and Renee Songalia got the final goal in the 58th.
Aside from the four teams, the other two squads in the Women’s Open are the youth-laded St. Theresa’s College and Sacred heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.
In the 38-Above Division, Fatboyz FC and DB Alumni FC routed their foes, while USC Alumni FC earned a win via forfeit as Lapu-Lapu City failed to show up.
Yasha Shyrany (13th), Jade Paghubasan (64th), Hayato Ayabe (71,73) and Arnel Catalan gave Fatboyz an easy 5-0 win over the Bro National, while Mark Alexis Buglosa had a hat trick in DB Almuni’s 6-2 win over Queen City United.
Crio Sarchez scored twice and Ramil Lachica had one against Queen City, which got its goals from Mark Jil Fernandez and Marvin Baring.