One step backward, two steps forward.
Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School coach Ching delos Reyes rested her key players in the final game of the eliminations and didn’t mind absorbing a 2-4 loss to defending champion Sacred Heart School of Cebu.
When all the marbles were at stake in Tuesday’s finals, the veteran mentor liked her chances with fresher legs to lean on to. Coupled with a stingy man-to-man defense on Sacred Heart’s explosive player Itsuko Bacatan, Ateneo de Davao SHS completed a masterstroke–defeating the highly-favored reigning champs 3-2 to bag the JAM 2018 girls futsal title in Cebu City.
Denise Angela Diamante knocked in two goals and Alessandra Ysabel Aquino dropped one for the Matina-based Blue Kights. Julian Meredith Mirto set up all three markers–two on a corner kick and one on kick in while the rest of the squad alternated on putting the shackles on Bacatan. The SHSC striker still managed to sneak in two markers but that wasn’t enough to prevent ADDU from snatching the crown.
“During game namo sa elims, kami advantage sa ilaha after 1st half 2-1. Pero due to injuries medyo naglisod ko ug rotate sa players. Giparest na lang nako in preparation sa Finals (During our game in the eliminations, we were ahead 2-1 after the first half but due to injuries I found it hard to rotate the players so I decided to rest the injured players for the Finals),” Delos Reyes told Edge Davao.
It was ADDU’s first title after finishing third two years ago.
The team is composed of Julianna Raine Taojo, Lianne Marie Co, Julien Meredith Mirto, Jessica Marie Pido, Alessandra Ysabel Aquino, Denise Angela Diamante, Alessandra Kyana Dimaandal, Shanelle Charllyne Ostan, Angelica Beatrx Magno, Yunika Maria Angala, Samantha Hope Salise, and Jasmine Cassandra Agustin.
Assisting Delos Reyes at the bench is assistant coach Analou Ingles.
