A Tale of Two Fates: Lethal Arachnids qualify for Men’s Futsal Finals; Women’s team stumbles in Semis

By Andrea Ross Sedero and Thea Maristelle Pusod

Hang on, Spiders!

Half of Arachnosphere still stands strong as the CASS Lethal Arachnids Men’s Futsal team devoured the COE Flaming Dragons and CSM Space Lynxes in the PALAKASAN Futsal semifinals on April 29 at the IDS Multi-Purpose Hall.

Meanwhile, despite a determined effort from the CASS’ Women’s Futsal team to secure their place, the COE Flaming Dragons unfortunately took hold of them early in the semifinals game, causing the spider women their spot to the finals.

A tale of two fates unfolds for these two Arachnid counterparts but despite their diverging paths, both teams have proven to be full of fight and might in the face of adversity when they pulled through this far into the tournament.

During the rematch against the Men’s teams of CASS and COE, sparks flew in a tense 2-1 victory over the Flaming Dragons. The Arachnids surprised the Dragons early, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to grab a quick lead. The Dragons responded with fiery intensity, nearly catching up on several occasions. The game became increasingly heated with tempers flaring on both sides. However, the determined Arachnids refused to crack, shutting down the Dragons’ attacks and preserving their lead. The final whistle blew, securing a hard-fought victory for the Arachnids in their long-standing rivalry against the Dragons.

Recalling their defeat in previous encounters with the COE Flaming Dragons, CASS’ Futsal Team Captain, Manny Villacampo emphasized their team’s determination in redeeming themselves in their matchup.

“Kani na match-up is intense jud siya tungod kay gi take namo ni as rematch last year kay semi-finals sa lower bracket last PALAKASAN kay kami gakontra unya napildi mi nila, tas Round 1 karon na PALAKSAN kay napildi mi nila. Karon is gi-take namo as redemption na game ni. Intense kaayo ang tanan, not just sa playing style, pero sa crowd pud,” Villacampo highlighted.

On the other hand, in a semifinal upset during the Women’s Futsal tournament, the COE Flaming Dragons doused the CASS Lethal Arachnids’ attempt at a comeback in this rematch with a 3-0 score. Much like their previous encounter in the opening round, the Dragons asserted their dominance over the Arachnids, leaving the spider women empty of goals.

In an interview with CASSayuran, Yve Kay Francisco, one of the Lethal Arachnids of the Women’s Futsal team, expressed her gratitude and congratulations to her team, acknowledging the challenges they faced together. She emphasized the journey they went through, marked by both victories and defeats, which ultimately made the experience enjoyable.

“I think it was the journey that made this all fun. Although gi celebrate namo among wins, among pildi dili kayo namo gimind. I’m still thankful bahalag pildi mi karon. At least naa mi mga daog, dili lubog ang CASS this time!” Francisco affirmed.

Facing their last qualifying game for the finals in a do-or-die match, the CASS Lethal Arachnids of the Men's Futsal team continued their momentum, crushing the CSM Space Lynxes in a 4-0 match. Their relentlessness stifled the Lynxes’ usual patient game, forcing turnovers that the Arachnids capitalized on ruthlessly. The final whistle blew on a dominant display by the Arachnids, leaving the Space Lynxes grounded and the Lethal Arachnids buzzing with anticipation for the Finals. The Spiders are set to vie for gold against the CED Czarina Phoenixes this morning, April 30.