USC bags third straight Girls 19 crown in Thirsty Football

The University of San Carlos (USC) clinched its third straight title in the Girls 19 category of the 10th Thirsty Football Festival after its Green Team finished with 10 points yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

USC Green dominated the category played in a league-type format after posting three wins and one draw. Named Most Valuable Player was Maritoni “Maimai” Trebol.

USC Green won against Silliman University, San Roque Football Club (SRFC) and Primum FC then forged a scoreless draw against sister team USC White.

USC White bagged first runner-up honors after accounting for eight points. It won two of its matches against Primum FC and Silliman University. It added another scoreless draw against SRFC.

In the Girls 14, the quarterfinal pairing was San Carlos City vs. St. Theresa’s College; Ateneo de Davao vs. CIS Dragons; SRFC vs. Phoenix FC and Ateneo de Cebu vs. Tabor Hill FC. The quarters were being played as of press time. Elimination matches in the 42 Above were also ongoing as of presstime.

Matches will continue today in two venues—CCSC and the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) in Punta Princesa.

The Little Azkals, also known as the Philippine Under 14 team, will try to retain their title in the Boys 14 category.

The team will be manned by assistant team captain Josh Miller and Mark Winhoffer, both of Manila; Dumaguete’s Jose Anton Yared and Christian Floren Lapas; Dipolog’s Sean Patangan; Cagayan de Oro’s Jeremiah “JB” Borlongan and Juancho Fernandez; San Carlos City’s Shanden and Mason Vergara and Cebu City’s Vincent “Ngitz” Lovitos, Major Dean Ebarle and Lawrence “Soysoy” Colina. The national junior team will also be fielding a team in the Boys 17 category.

Categories to be played at the CCSC are Boys 14 and 17, and Players 10 while at the DBTC are Players 8 and 6, Boys 12, Girls 17 and 36 Above, as well as some of the elimination matches of the Men’s Open.

Meanwhile, ERCO FC team owner Rodney Orale confirmed the participation of another member of the Philippine Azkals in one of their Men’s Open teams.

Ian Araneta, who earlier said he couldn’t make it due to a family emergency, changed his mind and will be arriving with Chieffy Caligdong tomorrow.