Sports cinderellas re-live glory days

BENCHWARMER
Ramon Dacawi

They were dubbed Baguio Cinderellas for having had to seek fairy godmothers (and godfathers) just to be able to compete in tournaments they were a cinch to win, including four national opens and numerous blitz tournaments.

That’s why mayor Mauricio Domogan and the Benguet Electric Cooperative teamed up again to send the Baguio ladies football squad to the 10th Labay Soccer Fiesta this morning at the University of the Philippines in Laguna.

Never mind if they’ll come home without the trophy this time, which has been a rarity in their campaign now spanning 20 years. . It’s heartwarming enough that this time, some of the pioneers in the multi-titled squad will be playing with their daughters whom they’d nursed in-between matches during their prime. After all, there were moments of glory to remember about the team coach Manny Javellana gathered and trained in their teens in the late ‘80s.

Like when they booted in the winning goal against tough Polytechnic University of the Philippines in the first Baguio Ladies Open summer of 1992. That was when mayor Domogan and then city prosecutor Erdolfo Balajadia jumped out of their seats and punched the air in jubilation at the Melvin Jones Grandstand.

Like those numerous times Beneco suited them up and drove them to and from numerous out-of-town campaigns like the Alaska Cup in plush Alabang, Rizal.That was when Randall Dampac, who was driving them home with their trophy, just couldn’t take it anymore. So he stopped the van beside a fast-food shop in Tarlac, counted his cash, woke them up and told them to have supper to celebrate their victory – on him.

Or when Peewee Agustin or Petronio Dacoron had to ask them to get out and push from behind to help jumpstart the van. Or when businessman Dan David took the tab and then stood by them when they recaptured the National Ladies Cup in Sta. Cruz, Laguna from defending champion Davao. They initially took the cup in 1993 here but couldn’t fly to Davao to defend it the following year.

The Cinderella squad being fielded this morning in the seven-a-side, 20-minute-per-game blitz series in Los Banos will be led by original striker Anna Liza Umoc-Cabanilla, her sister and defender Vangie Umoc-Gigan, Grace Carrera and Virgie Tibaldo-Bungay.

They will be backed up by Anna’s daughters Jana and Luisa Marie, second-generation recruits Judith Doctolero, Melody Buccahan, Carol Banguitan, Marissa Manaday, Rachelle Gasigas, Shiela Abucay, Kathlynne Sabalburo and Jerelle Tabisula, daughter of pioneer forward Richelle Ranchez-Tabisula.

Used to making do within the givens just to be able to play, the girls again cooked and packed “adobo” and started off last night, timed to reach the playing venue this morning.