Flores leads Hiroshi FC to back-to-back titles

A long shot from John Michael Flores in the 44th minute allowed Hiroshi Football Club to bag back-to-back men’s open title in the 12th Cebu Interclub Football Cup as they defeated the Queen City United (QCU), 1-0, in yesterday’s championship game at the football field of the University of San Carlos Technological Center.

The lone goal proved to be the winning shot as Hiroshi FC held on to the lead until the end to bag the crosn and the P100,000 cash prize.

This is the third time that QCU ended as the first runner-up in the tournament. Last year, the team was also frustrated by Hiroshi FC. In 2010, it was Doraemon who defeated the squad.

Flores, who is a former member of the Philippine football team, was named as the game’s most valuable player.

“I was eager to score because we wanted to win,” said Flores.

Flores was actually suspended by the Cebu Queen City United Football Club (CQCU FC) for the rest of the United Football League Second Division Tournament for opting to play for Hiroshi FC. But he said the move was “worth it.”

Flores added that he decided to play for Hiroshi FC because he is a pioneering member of the club.

According to Flores, he will appeal the decision and is still willing to play for CQCU FC as long as the club still wants him.

Hiroshi’s Peter Martin Dionela was named as the best midfielder while Henderson Jay Campo was named as the best goalkeeper.

QCU’s Rodney Gandiongco was the division’s top goalscorer while his teammate Yancy Menchavez was tagged as the best defender.

QCU did not go home empty handed as it clinched the 40 and Above title after prevailing over ERCO FC-PTT, 5-4, in a penalty shootout. The regulation match ended at 2-all.

In the boys 17, the Cebu Team dethroned the Abellana National School (ANS) Pomeroy, 4-0.

The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) copped two titles—the boys 14 and the players 10 by prevailing over squads of the Canduman FC.

In the boys 14, the Magis Eagles routed Canduman FC, 4-0, for the title while in the players 10, they edged Canduman FC, 1-0.

The boys 12 title went to Dinamo South FC, who stopped SHS-AdC from bagging its third title in the tournament with a 3-0 victory.