Clash in Cebu: Don Bosco confronts SHS-Ateneo in El Clasico match

Ready for a football spectacle? Mark your calendars, because June 1 is going to be electric, right at the Cebu City Sports Center!

The event? It's the hotly-anticipated Cebu El Clasico, where the Don Bosco Technical College Greywolves will face off against the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles. This is more than just a regular match, it's a fierce rivalry, rekindled and taken to another level.

Leave your worries behind, because this isn't high school anymore. This time, the players are all grown up, ready to battle it out on the pitch. It's the perfect blend of camaraderie, friendly rivalry, and a nod to their shared history. If Manila's got the La Salle vs. Ateneo rivalry, Cebu's football scene is all about SHS-Ateneo vs. Don Bosco.

Thirsty Juices and Shakes are helping to organize this epic event, fresh off hosting the 19th Thirsty Cup. They aim to create a buzz around the sport and give the old teammates and old rivals a new battlefield. The winner? The school that takes home the trophy, a symbol of bragging rights for an entire year.

The match will be divided into three halves, with flying substitutions, under the watch of the Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA), headed by our mate, Engr. Rodney Orale. The objective? To balance intensity with inclusivity, making the game accessible to all.

The seeds of the Cebu El Clasico were sown by none other than Chad Songalia, an alumnus of both DBTC and Ateneo. During a CRFA meeting, he threw the idea into the mix, and with the help of fellow football enthusiasts Milky Cañete (DBTC) and Mark Queblatin (SHS-AdC), the idea took root, gaining overwhelming support.

Who's gonna show up? You can expect some familiar faces on the DBTC team, like Glen Thomas Ramos, Kamil Amirul, Kenry Balobo, and John Clyde Vitualla. On the Ateneo side, keep an eye out for Leo Maquiling, Kintaro Miyagi, and Jack Zambrano.

The coaches are legends in their own right. For DBTC, watch out for Glen Ramos, the heart of Don Bosco football. For SHS-Ateneo, keep an eye on Ref Cuaresma, a former pro, grassroots icon, and mentor to many.

But it's not just about the final score or who scores the most goals. The game is about celebrating football and honoring the lasting camaraderie and friendships that have remained strong even after the final whistle.

Tickets will be reasonably priced, with all proceeds going towards the football programs of both schools. Jerseys will be available for P650, proudly featuring both teams.

Before the main event, the high school and elementary teams of DBTC and SHS-AdC will go head-to-head in friendly matches, setting the stage and reminding us why we fell in love with the sport in the first place.

At its core, football is about connection, and for one special Sunday in June, it will link decades of Bosconians and Ateneans. It will reconnect the kids who used to sprint across the CCSC pitch under the afternoon sun - now professionals, fathers, coaches, and fans.

El Clasico. Greywolves vs. Magis Eagles. See you on June 1!

The Cebu El Clasico, a highly anticipated football match, will take place at the Cebu City Sports Center on June 1.
The event is organized by Thirsty Juices and Shakes, who aim to rekindle interest in football and provide a new battlefield for old teammates and rivals, such as Glen Thomas Ramos from Don Bosco Technical College and Leo Maquiling from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.
The match will be overseen by the Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA), headed by Engr. Rodney Orale, and will feature three halves, flying substitutions, and a focus on balancing intensity with inclusivity.
The winner will take home the trophy as a symbol of bragging rights, while tickets will be reasonably priced, and proceeds will go towards the football programs of both schools.
Before the main match, there will be friendly football matches between the high school and elementary teams of both schools, reminding spectators of why they fell in love with the sport in the first place and reinforcing the concept that football is about connection.