THE Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) was crowned champions in the secondary division football competition of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) after dethroning the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) via penalty shoot-out, 4-2, yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) football pitch.
It was sweet revenge for the DBTC booters as it was this same SHS-AdC squad that defeated them, 4-1, in last year’s finals.
“Our morale was very low when we entered this week. I told the boys that we had to fight because this is the championships and our school administration is already starting to ask why aren’t we winning anymore,” DBTC coach Glen Ramos said.
So important was the game that Ramos had to make a risky move. “I forced (Ezra) Decena to play even though he had fever,” Ramos said.
That move paid off as Decena was one of those who scored for DBTC. Glen Thomas Ramos broke the silence after he scored an easy goal over the towering goal keeper of SHS-AdC, Kristian Taylor, at the first five-minute mark of the second half.
SHS-AdC answered after Karlo Villamor’s assist led to a goal by Jun Canlas for a 1-1 count at the end of regulation.
Kintaro Miyagi gave SHS-AdC the lead after converting a long-distance kick from the left wing at the fifth minute of the extension period. Decena then netted a crucial goal for a 2-2 count, forcing a penalty shootout.
Kenry Balobo, Andre Roa, Decena and Angelo Alforque all scored for DBTC in the shootout while SHS-AdC’s scorers were Miguel Kwan and Kyle Silawan. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL