THE University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) bagged the first-ever Men’s Under-23 title of the 14th Aboitiz Football Cup after outlasting the University of Southern Philippines University Foundation (USPF), 2-0, yesterday at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
The Jaguars clinched the title after finishing with the highest number of points with 9, winning three of its four matches.
The category was played in a league-type format, which means that the team with the most number of wins will take home the title.
USJ-R also earned the right to represent Cebu in the Visayas leg of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Suzuki Cup Under 23, which will kickoff on March 18 in Dumaguete City.
USJ-R head coach Joselito Bono said he will still have a meeting with his staff to determine if they would need to pick up players from other teams to beef up the team for the PFF Suzuki Cup.
USJ-R will be competing against teams from Leyte, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
The tournament will be played in a home-and-away series so Cebu’s first match will be against Leyte on March 18, against Negros Oriental on March 25 and against Iloilo on March 31 here in Cebu City.
Scoring for USJ-R yesterday were Adrian Mejaran and Junifer Ebero. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON