CEBU, Philippines - The Queen City United (QCU) of coach Mario Ceniza scored sweet revenge in style, trouncing the hapless San Roque Rehab side, 5-0, to clinch the men’s open crown of the 13th Cebu Amateur Inter-Club Football Cup yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.
San Roque Rehab beat QCU, 1-2, during the elimination round, but it couldn’t duplicate that winning formula in the most important stage of the week-long tournament.
The two protagonists actually fought on an even playing field for most part of the first half until QCU’s Samson Olaniyi found the back of the net at the 41st.
Ariel Cahilig knocked in QCU’s second goal following a cross from Olaniyi at the 58th, while Jade Paghubasan made it 3-0 for QCU at the 76th. Olaniyi added one more goal at the 78th, paving the way for him to claim the MVP award. Joseph Roriguez wrapped up QCU’s one-sided victory with a goal at the 90th.
It was QCU’s third title of the year as it earlier ruled in the Aboitiz Football Cup and the BRO Football Cup.
It also capped QCU’s fairytale run they highlighted by booting out two-time defending champion Hiroshi FC, 2-0, in the semifinals.
In the other categories, ERCO-Bro Nationals bagged two titles. It whipped Hiroshi, 4-0, to lord it over in the 40-above category and then tamed Canduman, 3-0, to reign supreme in the 15-under age group.
In the 18-under division, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu prevailed over Abellana National School-Pomeroy , 2-1. After a 1-1 deadlock, Marcus Congmon delivered the game-clinching goal for SHS-AdC at the 64th. (FREEMAN)