diary of the 25th year: the 6th of March

It was a swell Sunday for me. Not only was I able to indulge in some good 'ol football (haven't played since oh, early February), but I also spent time with friends over good food and nice chit-chat.

The day actually started out with me still awake, trying to finish The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants since I wasn't the least bit sleepy, given the hours that I've been working. I actually got to finish the book (in love with Lena's character, and am actually curious about the movie and how her Greek god Kostos looks like haha), and it was around 3:30 am that I started feeling sleepy. Didn't make it to the supposed 7:30 am meetup in McDo near the Marikina Sports Complex, but it turned out to be alright since our first game was not until before 11:00 am.

This motley crew of Sikad ladies hadn't had time to train together - I for one am not fit having had no physical activities for the past two weeks - but I guess this combination of us was just right (I may also have benefitted from the chips that I carbo-loaded on (haha!) the night before, wtf?!). To think that we actually didn't have our regular keeper with us.

Anyhoo, we suffered defeat in our first game against a UST Team that featured this player from La Salle who is looked up to by one of our teammates who was not playing then, and who we've played against futsal tournaments ago (and we defeated their team then! their shots hitting the crossbar or else, being saved by our keeper).

We had a power striker with us in the person of Jeanne who has a deadly left foot, and who eventually, showered the tournament with goal after goal. If there was a Golden Boot award, it'd be hers. The next game was against CFAD from UST and we won. The next one was the hardest one, against RTU. They are one of the strongest women's futsal teams currently around (where'd they come from? Years ago, we were usually facing PWU and EAC. Anyway...). We changed our game plan courtesy of our coach and club founder Kuya Carl. Playing a tighter defense, we succeeded in shutting them out of goals, until we scored our first, and they equalized soon right after, dampening everyone's celebrations. I don't know why but almost everyone watching were supporting the girls in yellow (us!). We found another goal minutes later. And we've succeeded in defeating the only undefeated team in the tournament. It was a really nice thing given that they thrashed us good the last time these we met in the Philippine Futsal League last January (wasn't present then though). We emerged top of the bracket even, winning over goal difference after tying with UST and RTU. Go Jeanne!

So we were through to the next round, going against an Ateneo-based team (?) who was the last placer in the other bracket. We comfortably handled them. The next match up was another round against the UST Team who beat us earlier. Even though we've been playing the other teams goalless since the first defeat and the win over RTU, somehow the chemistry broke down and we weren't able to lord it over this team, as much as we wanted. So there goes our hopes for another championship (it's been awhile since our team won some). It was UST and RTU who are meeting up for the finals. Meanwhile FC Sikad is facing the organizers' Condem FC who I believe are from Miriam College. I was subbed in in the second half (we were playing 10 minutes each half since the semi-finals) and I could feel the fight everyone was giving from both teams. We were playing for 3rd place after all.

Kuya Carl in the foreground - the wall against Condem FC - I believe that's me on the leftmost side of the wall, jumping

They were relentlessly attacking us while we also tried to string our offense and produce a much needed goal. We wouldn't want to decide this on penalty shoot-outs, at least that's how I feel. Jeanne eventually found the back of the net after two tries from me, I think. And so that's it, the FC Sikad Women's team has another trophy under its belt. It's also a precious experience for me since one, I got a medal (yay! my first in football) and also, I did feel that I played a part in what the team achieved (same as how I also played a part in why our team didn't win in other games where I'm part of the lineup). And also, Kuya Carl commented that I was playing well (though I'm not sure if I would really take what he's saying as true because he just might be saying it to be nice, but when he gave me an example of one instance, I might just give it to him). And ate Klur, our makeshift keeper (she's efficient on the field and was the one who formed this team, but without a keeper, she opted to take the position), also commended me for making 2 attempts. I didn't realize before she said it that yes, I've somehow improved because I'm no longer afraid of attempting goals. In fact, I remember trying to do this for the first time back in the PFL last January. One was on target, if only I had injected more venom in it since it did a slow arc and the keeper had enough time to judge its trajectory and catch it. Kuya Carl said I should work on my striking, since he couldn't tell if I'm passing or striking. I agree. I have to work on locking that ankle.

So we finished up around 5. Went to the Ateneo HS field after the men's team's game in the Weekend Futbol League (WFL). Though everything is not roses on their side, we still found them relaxing, chatting and generally having a genial atmosphere. They went to some place in Katipunan Avenue to fill up. Meanwhile I needed to be getting to Trinoma for my dinner date with friends in occasion of my birthday. I brought my sister along, so there were the two of us, Ate Beng who I haven't seen in quite a while, Macel, Joyce and Marnie. Incidentally, Marnie and Karen are also celebrating their birthdays this month. When we found out that there's some sort of special treat for birthday celebrators over at Cyma where we were at, ate Beng also said it's also her birthday month. This after Macel insisting that she remembers here being born on March, too.

So it was the first Cyma experience for half of the party and we were naturally eager to sample the delights of Greek cuisine. So we tried the following: