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Sat 2 November 2024

FEU, UP top table; Ateneo-La Salle derby end in draw

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After a slow start, Far Eastern University (FEU) blitzed University of Santo Tomas (UST) with three successive second half goals, 3-1, to top the UAAP Season 86 men’s football leaderboard on Sunday at the University of the Philippines (UP).

Conceding a goal in the 56th minute with a well built-up strike by Thomasian forward Tarshish Garciano, the Tamaraws stepped on the gas pedal with new substitutes tactically fielded in the grueling daytime play, compounded by a Growling Tiger team distracted by a penalty non-call on Archie Belluga.

Center back Mel Baylon punished UST’s Miguel Abada, slamming the ball to the goal after the goalkeeper’s spill in the 75th minute.

Martini Rey and Andre Yu then skillfully sank their shots from deep in the 86th and 90+3 minute mark, respectively.

“It was the gigil to score that was lacking in the first half,” lamented FEU manager Alberto Besa on his team’s slow start.

“But it makes me much prouder of the boys that they have the winning mentality and for me and that’s the very important factor to have in a player and in a team,” he continued.

FEU now has 15 points off five wins and one loss and are three points ahead of second place UP (4-0-3), who survived a 3-2 squeaker past Adamson University in the curtain raiser.

Forward Ramil Bation III surged early with a first half brace in the 12th and 35th minute as Francis Tacardon joined his partner in front with a goal in the 38th minute.

Unfazed, the recent Ang Liga champs fought back with successive goals from captain Arjay Buenaobra and Lorent Jayaon in the 55th and 60th minute, respectively.

The Fighting Maroons’ woes continued with a reported arm fracture from starting goalkeeper Ryan Tiambeng.

Worse, UP conceded a penalty in the second half injury time that could have shaved their potential three points but substitute keeper Alfonso Gonzalez stepped up on the clutch, saving the spot kick of Carl Mahinay.

“It was a stressful game,” sighed UP manager Popoy Clarino, who dedicated the win to the late UP varsity program director Mona Adviento-Maghanoy, who died during a recent climb in Mindoro.

“I think it was a clean challenge and Adamson did not deserve that penalty, so in my head I just made sure to keep the lead, secure the three points, and prove that this is our win,” the 19-year-old Gonzalez remarked after the game.

In the box office nightcap, there was no winner in derby between Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University, 1-1.

Kofi Agyei sank an early goal off the long sprint past La Salle’s defender in the ninth minute but 75 minutes later, Green Booter Franck Anoh volleyed a strike past Atenean goalkeeper Artuz Cezar for the equalizer.

In separate interviews, both Agyei and Anoh acknowledged their teams’ struggles in the first round and vowed to bounce back to earn a trip to the Final Four.

Ateneo remains at third place with 11 points (3-2-1) while La Salle is just two points ahead of UST (2-1-3) at fourth place with two wins, three draws, and a loss.

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