FRESH from their title conquest of the Kick Sand Beach Football Open last April in Subic, the UST Lady Booters shone anew with a second runner-up finish in the Chris Monfort Memorial Cup at the Ateneo de Manila University football grounds last June 9.
After an overpowering performance in the elimination round, the Lady Booters lost steam in the semis, succumbing to the Ateneo alumni squad (Team B), 2-0. Despite their tired legs, the UST Lady Booters gave one final kick to salvage a third-place finish over the Ateneo College Varsity (Team A), 1-0. Center halfback Jolina Evangelista saved the day for the Lady Booters as she scored the match’s only goal.
Meanwhile, their semis tormentor, Ateneo Team B, bagged the crown with a victory over the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Alumni team in the championship match.
Strengthened by the return of Fil-American sisters Ginger and Niña Loarca, Coach Gil Talavera’s team went on a rampage early in the elimination, winning their first four games. The UST Lady Booters beat Benguet State University, College of St. Benilde and the Giordano Football Club before settling for a draw against Ateneo Team B. Their lone loss in the eliminations came at the hands of a strong PUP Alumni team made up mostly of national players.
The Loarca sisters immediately made an impact on the team with Niña splendidly guarding the goal for the Lady Booters while Ginger helped in carrying the offensive load together with team captain Alelie Bonifacio and Joyce Landagan. However, the fatigue factor took its toll as they came up short down the stretch of the tournament.
In spite of the absence of the UAAP powerhouse teams, De la Salle University and Far Eastern University, the Lady Booters got much needed exposure as they played against various alumni teams that boasted of national team players.
The tournament’s format tested the stamina and the agility of the Lady Booters as they played in six 10-minute elimination games while the semifinal game and the playoff for third, which were played in just a single day, consisted of two halves with 15 minutes each.
The Lady Booters also won the FIFA Fair Play Award, a citation given to the team with the least number of yellow and red card violations.
“Magandang experience para sa mga bata itong tournament na ito kasi nagkaroon sila ng chance na makapaglaro against strong teams like the PUP Alumni and the Ateneo Alumni. Saka iyong paglalaro nila ng seven games sa isang araw lang, malaking bagay na iyon,” assistant coach Jade Bejemino said.
The tournament was held in memory of the late Chris Monfort, former general secretary of the Philippine Football Federation and a pillar of the game in the country. He died June 12 last year due to injuries he sustained from a car accident.
Meanwhile, the Lady Booters will join the Metro Manila Girls Football Association tournament next month as part of their pre-season building. Bejemino said that only Ginger Loarca will stay to play for UST in the coming UAAP football season. Niña will be returning to the United States to continue her studies. The elder Loarca also plays football for her US varsity team. The comebacking Ginger will be a welcome addition to the team as the coaching staff is still looking for someone to fill the void that will be left behind by the graduating Alelie Bonifacio, considered by her teammates as the team’s heart and soul.
“Puwede pang maglaro si Alelie dahil meron pa siyang natitirang one year sa kaniyang playing eligibility, pero nakapagdesisyon na siyang maghahanap muna ng trabaho. Saka na lang daw babalik pag kukuha na ng post-graduate studies,” Bejemino said. Alder T. Almo
