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Monday, 18 February 2008 |
By Jack Biantan
LONDON - THE Pinoysoccer.com backed Homeboys FC vowed to give a better showing next time after they bowed to eventual champion San Roque Football Club in the quarter finals of the Men's Open division of the just recently concluded 5th Thirsty Football festival at the Cebu city Sport Center.
According to Homeboys playing coach and manager Robert Nicart, the team had a good performance but they could have moved forward and even won the title had their ageless goalkeeper Leo Dizon did not suffer from an injury in their second match against the Expats laden XP Intenational.
The 39-year-old Dizon, suffered an injury after colliding with an XP striker while they were leading 1-0 early in the 15 minute 7-aside match.
Without Dizon, XP managed to equalize and held on to deprive the Homeboys of three points.
The draw however did not stop the Homeboys from advancing to the quarterfinals after they blasted Uptown United 2-0 in their first match, San Roque Royal team B, 2-0 in their third assignment and UFCIT also 2-0 in their last elims match.
They finished the elims with a 3 win one draw slate to advance to the last 16 knockout clash against Don Bosco Alumni United team A.
Striker Efiphanio Inot also a product of the Don Bosco Boys Home football program in Lilo-an, Cebu, was the most dominant goalscorer for Homeboys scoring a total of five goals in the elims.
Dave Intong and Nicart also added one goal each in the elims. The Homeboys also got a lift from former national team player Glen Ramos as he gave them experience and strength at the midfield.
Inot and Intong also scored one goal each in their knockout victory over Don Bosco United team A to lift the Homeboys to the quarter final against San Roque FC.
Dizon's absence in the knockout phase was felt when they lost in the penalty shootout in the quarter finals.
Inot failed to score in the shootout against SRFC as the Homeboys bowed out of contention losing 2-3. Ramos and Nino Zapanta scored the other goals for the Homeboys' farewell match.
SRFC eventually won the title after slipping past Don Bosco United 1-0.
Former national youth team striker Elmer Minguito slipped past a goal in the dying minutes to secure SRFC's first title in the Thirsty Cup.
Heading SRFC are Cebu International School coach Eleazar Toledo and former RP team player Oliver Colina.
They were also bolstered by a young but reliable Emmanuel Cunningham.
SRFC goalkeeper Randy Colina also won the MVP medal.
Earlier SRFC nipped Foundation University 5-4 in the semis.
Homeboys-Pinoysoccer.com fielded only one team consisting of 15 players in the 5th Thirsty Cup but Nicart vowed that all his 22 players will see action in the Cebu Futsal championships set on the second week of March at the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) covered Futsal court in Labangon.
`The most important thing is that we enjoyed the experience. We will be back next month. This time we will try to have a better finish', Nicart said.
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