USPF sets the pace in CESAFI bootfest

CEBU – The University of Southern Philippines Foundation has shocked the early favorites by taking the lead in the college division of the 2008 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated (CESAFI) football tournament at the University of San Carlos Technological Center in Talamban, this city.

An undermanned USPF side scored an upset win over defending champion University of San Jose-Recoletos, 1-0, the other day.

Rene Sanchez scored the lone goal in the game on the 76th minute for USPF.

Although USJ-R had ball possession most of the game, the Kicking Jaguars could not convert them into goals.

USJ-R also committed more fouls, 17, against USPF’s 15 and had more off-sides, 3 against 1.

The loss dropped USJ-R to fourth spot.

USPF now holds six points and a plus seven goal difference.

USC runs second also with six points but a GD of plus five. At third is the University of the Visayas with two points.

UV earned a point last Saturday as it figured in a 1-all draw with the University of Cebu.

UC opened the scoring on the 63rd courtesy of Ariel Repeso and UV equalized on the 84th through skipper Frederick Alazas.

UV had the advantage in terms of experience, but the team had trouble controlling their tempers allowing UC to halve the game.

Alazas and teammate Junard Aguilar will sit out the next game of UV as they were slapped with a second yellow card Saturday.

Julius Acre is another UV player who will miss the next game as he got carded twice last Saturday on the 53rd and 88th minutes.

“We’ve issued a warning before regarding players having a yellow card in their first game.  Others seem to forget once they are on the field.  I don’t know if they were carried away, but it seems USC will have the last laugh.

“UV’s team captain Alazas, prolific striker Aguilar and playmaker Acre will be sitting out in their 3rd game versus USC.  Alazas and Aguilar both have 2 yellow cards and Acre was booked with a red card,” said tournament manager Jonathan Maximo. – THE FREEMAN