The spectators of the
championship game of the 10th Acosta Cup last Sunday, December 15,
were treated to a rare nail-biting sports experience. The showdown between defending champion
Philippine Women’s College (PWC) Patriots and the team-standing leader SOS
Davao Football Club was such an edge-of-your-seat spectacle that the outcome
was unclear until the very last second of the match.
PWC opened up the score board
with a goal from Krista Villa Abrille in the 13th minute. Before the half-time break, SOS striker Agot
Danton chipped in a resounding equalizer.
SOS then took the lead with a strike from Joyce Semancio in the
49th. A handball foul inside the penalty
area in the 52nd by defender Maylene Albarracin allowed the Patriots to level the
score with a kick from the penalty spot courtesy of Cherry Mae Vilchez, sealing
a tie after the 80-minute regulation time.
In the first ten-minute
extension of play, a spectacular second goal from Danton in the 85th catapulted
SOS in the lead. Four minutes later
however, Albarracin was again flagged for another handball inside the penalty
area giving the defending champ a chance once again to draw the game with a
penalty kick via Villa Abrille.
A thrilling penalty shoot-out
ensued and after six players per team had their opportunity to make hits and
misses in the net, the Patriots ended the stalemate with a decisive goal from
its seventh kicker Alvin Rose Pardillo, earning PWC its third consecutive Acosta
Cup victory.
The awards ceremony that
followed was attended by no less than Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta and her
husband Capt. Rey Acosta. Also present
was Michael Co of the Davao Football Association. Medals, trophies, cash prizes, certificates
and tokens were given to the victor and runners-up SOS and D’DS Tigs who
triumphed over Ateneo Blue Knights in the pre-championship match.
Agot Danton was declared as the
Best Striker with 27 goals in the entire tournament while PWC Patriots
goalkeeper Geniveive Suyco was proclaimed Most Valuable Player. Both athletes received cash gifts along with
the individual recognition.
Acosta Cup was organized in
2004 under the auspices of City Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta in coordination
with the Davao Football Association.
This year’s event is made possible by the consistent support of the City
Government of Davao-Office of the City Mayor, Primo Café & Grille, SBF
Phils. Drilling Corporation, ULTICON Builder’s Inc., Mergrande Ocean Resort,
NCCC Davao, Jollibee Davao-JTC Group of Companies, and San Iker Garments.
