Ateneo de Manila finally brings back the UAAP men’s football crown back to Loyola.

The Blue Eagles regain the title once won by the squad in 2006, after dethroning two-time defending champion University of the Philippines in a best-of-three series sweep on Sunday at the Moro Lorenzo Field in the Ateneo de Manila University campus.

Similar to their first encounter last Thursday, both teams managed a scoreless draw after 90 minutes of regulation and a 30 minute extension.

In the penalty shootout, UP flubbed their first two attempts and yielded a 3-nil lead to Ateneo before Jinggoy Valmayor and Fe Baya scored consecutive shots from the spot to close in within one.

But Yu Murayama, who played the hero’s role in Game 1, had other ideas.

The third year goalkeeper-turned-striker slotted home the series-clinching goal over an off-balanced Tyrone Caballes to send the partisan crowd into a frenzy.

Since 1995, the Blue Booters have won six men’s football titles overall. Also, they denied their “Battle of Katipunan” counterparts from claiming their third straight title, keeping the distinction of being the only school in UAAP men’s football history to claim a “three-peat,” from 2004 to 2006.

Nick O’Donnell, who was the anchor as the last line of the Blue Booters’ defense, was named both the best goalkeeper and tournament MVP for his efforts. Teammates Carlo Liay and Michael Mabanag were named Rookie of the Year and Best Midfielder respectively.

Rounding out the award winners were Gregory Yang of De La Salle University (best defender), leading goalscorer Jesus Meliza of Far Eastern University (best striker), and third-placer Far Eastern University (Fair Play Award).