CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- After a good year in her budding football career, young Eunice Roxanne Eduave is hoping to get a slot in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) this year.
A graduate of Xavier University in high school, she is now enrolled at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman’s College of Human Kinetics taking up Physical Education. Her latest feat was an impressive performance in the recently concluded 4th Pinay in Action (PIA) Football Cup held in Davao City last January 11-13.
The Davao trip is part of the UP Women's Football Team (UPWFT) of coach Anto Gonzales' preparation for the UAAP Women’s Football tournament that will start soon.
“I have always dreamed of playing in the UAAP. I did not try out for any team nor take any entrance test for any school in Manila. Yet I am here now in UP,” the 18-year-old said.
Eduave was the starting goalkeeper of the UP Women’s Football Team Y during the three-day competition organized by Taguig City representative and former senator Pia Cayetano.
The tournament was supported by the Davao City government, Ulticon Builders, Inc., the South Davao Regional Football Association, University of Southeastern Philippines, Frog Kaffee, Magic 89.1, and SunStar Davao.
With Eduave between the posts, UPWFT Y was impressive during the elimination round at the Tionko field in Davao City. They recorded two wins and one draw. The UP-Y girls beat the Red Corals of Zamboanga City 4-1, Tiago FC, 3-0, and Alab FC, 6-0.
They then drew with University of Santo Thomas Team A to advance to the quarterfinals, where they whipped local team Philippine College of Technology Medvil FC, 5-0 and make it to the semis. They met their sister team UP X in the semis but unluckily lost 2-4 via penalty shootout.
Their unlucky streak did not end there as they lost to a very strong UST Team A, 1-0, in the battle for third. Their sister team UP X team captured the title after beating UST Team B in the championship.
So far, Eduave is thankful for getting into UP when she was recruited after the Palarong Pambansa in Vigan last year. She was the starting goalkeeper of the Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) Girls Futsal team of coach Dhon Lazo. The Region 10 girls managed to advance to the quarterfinals but unluckily fell to the eventual champions Region 7 (Central Visayas).
“So far, I am okay in UP. I have new friends, new environment and most especially, I am having a higher level of training. College football is way far from high school,” she said.
She added that her student-athlete life now is much more intense compared to when she was still in high school at Xavier University. As a rookie, UP has given her free tuition but her parents Van Roger and Rowena Lyn Eduave have to pay for her board and lodging and matriculation and allowances.
As a lass from the province, the economic pressure in the Big City is strong for the 18 year old. That is why she tries to earn some money through her involvement in multi-level marketing company, Frontrow, where she sells beauty and wellness products.
It is still a long way for Eunice. She is just a rookie. There are four goalkeepers in the UPWFT right now and making the 22-women team for the UAAP is a steep ladder to climb for this Cagayan de Oro native.
Her priority right now is to make the UAAP line-up. With her hard work and dedication, Kagay-anons hope to cheer for her in the coming UAAP Women’s Football tournament.
Results
Champion -- UPWFT X; 1st Runner-Up -- UST B; 2nd Runner-Up -- UST A; 3rd Runner-Up -- UPWFT Y; Special Awards Best Defender -- Cassandra Alleje (UPWFT X); Best Midfielder --Charisa Lemoran (UST); Best Goal Keeper -- Nicole Adlawan (UPWFT X); Fair Play -- UPWFT; Top Goal Scorer -- Shelah Cadag 13 goals (UST B ); Most Valuable Players -- Cassandra Alleje (UPWFT X), Charisa Lemoran (UST B). (PNA)
