La Salle juniors rap Cubs, seal record NCAA peat

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle Green Hills-College of St. Benilde juniors football team fashioned out a 2-0 win over San Beda College to complete an unprecedented 10-peat championship in the NCAA Season ’87 at the Philsports Football Field in Pasig City recently.

LSGH rookie Mathew Custodio scored with a breakaway on the 13th minute and NCAA Best Striker Anton Celdran delivered the second goal off a foul outside the penalty box on the 37th minute.

SBC strikers tried to fight back but failed to break into the LSGH Blazers’ tough defensive line headed by co-captains Joaquin Atayde and Eugene De Chavez, and NCAA best defender Julito Asparen and goalkeeper Enrico Barcia.

LSGH team captain and MVP Jeune Custodio III sustained a knee injury following a collision and failed to return in the second half.

Other awardees were Ronilio Bayan Jr. of Arellano University (Best Goalkeeper), Roberto Plopinio of SBC (Best Mid-Fielder) and Edienzel Mark Vilizano of Perpetual Help (Best Scorer). The Fair Play Award went to LSGH.

The win boosted the LSGH Blazers’ bid for the NCAA’s General Championship.

In seniors division, the San Beda Red Lions retained the championship with a sweep of the double elims round, capped by a 3-1 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College in the final game.

The tournament was backed by its medical partners Lifeline Rescue and EAC, Molten, LGR, Ultra, PSC chairman Richie Garcia and commissioner Chito Loyzaga.