Cebu Football Players Off to the UAAP

Four football prospects highlight this schoolyear’s UAAP batch of football recruits from Cebu. Leading the pack is three-time national age group team member Leo Maquiling of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu who will remain in the blue and white as he joins the Ateneo de Manila University men’s football team. Joining him in the UAAP is Churchill John Jubac of the University of San Jose Recoletos who takes his spikes to the University of Sto. Tomas (UST). Carlo Miguel Orale of Don Bosco Technical College-Cebu reunites with his older brother ER also at UST. Yoojin Kim (SHS-Ateneo de Cebu) joins the University of the Philippines women’s football team.

Maquiling is one of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu football’s most recognized players after making it to the Philippine national age group teams for football: Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18. He led the Magis Eagles to two CESAFI football championships in 2016 and 2018 where he was named MVP. ADMU head coach Jay Pee Merida said that they feel that Maquiling’s experience & versatility will play a key role in his college career. 

“His experience in youth international games is a big factor. He is also a utility player, he can play midfield, winger and striker,” Merida bared. Ateneo football program head Bob Manlulo talked about how long they had eyes on Maquiling. 

“Leo was already in the eyes of the ADMU coaches since his grade school days. He was scouted in the Palaro, both grade school and high school level as well as his stint in the national youth team. Leo will play a big role in orchestrating the attacking system of the team. His experience and talent will definitely help the team defend its crown for the upcoming Season 83,” Manlulo shared.

Jubac is one of Cebu’s toughest defenders while playing for USJR. He had spent his grade school and junior high school years at Don Bosco before transferring to USJR for senior high school. He was part of the Philippine Under 19 national football team training pool last year and was on the Central Visayas team that bowed to Western Visayas, 0-1, in the finals of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa. Orale, son of Central Visayas Football Association president Rodney Orale, is a lanky defensive midfielder for the Glen Ramos-coached Greywolves that won the CESAFI high school football championship in 2019. Ramos says that Orale excels in ball distribution and winning ball opportunities. He added that Orale is smart, versatile and hard-working.

Kim learned to play football at SHS-Ateneo de Cebu and had a crucial role in the Lady Magis Eagles’ dominance of the age group scene. She was part of the three-peat CESAFI Futsal championships and the 2019-2020 Aboitizland Football Cup Under 18 championship. Excited to face a new phase in her life, Kim said that she was ready for college life. “With a new environment and a new team to call family soon, I get to have a bunch of new opportunities to mold me into an independent person. Not only will I be able to have access to a good education for my future but also alongside be able to play the sport that made me the person I am now. I take this opportunity to enjoy life as a student-athlete a little longer than usual,” Kim said.

Central Visayas Football Association Vice President Nimrod Quiñones said that the move of these players is a reflection of Cebu’s solid grassroots program. 

“The CVFA is proud to see the products of our youth program move to a bigger playing field in Manila. We wish these young players all the best and hope to see them further develop their skills as players. Our president Rodney Orale is doubly happy as both head of the FA and father of one of the players with this development,” he said.

Photo Credits: Facebook Pages of the players.