Far Eastern University (FEU) surged to the top of the UAAP men’s football tournament standings while host University of the Philippines (UP) settled for a third draw in a row on Thursday’s action at the UP Football Stadium.
Gio Pabualan scored his first goals of the tournament, ending up with a brace, as the Tamaraws scorched for a 6-1 rout against league-trailing Adamson University.
The attacking midfielder goaled in the 17th minute for FEU’s second goal and added a late one in the 87th minute off a dazzling assist by Stephen Soria for a 5-1 lead.
Khent Valenzuela opened the Tamaraws’ account in the ninth minute while Geri Martini Rey, Karl Absalon, and Viejay Frigillano joined the scoring party in the second half.
The Soaring Falcons found a silver lining in the 55th minute as pint-sized forward Carl Mahinay muscled his way past Frigillano off a 1v1 race to the goal, scoring the first non-penalty goal of Adamson in the tournament.
“Kailangan namin ng points para mag-top one,” Pabualan said after the game. “Kailangan namin mag-score nang marami para kami mag-top one before mag-end ang first round.”
With the rout, FEU grabbed the solo lead with three wins and two draws while Adamson is winless in five caps.
Red schools draw
Erstwhile co-leader University of the East (UE) was not as lucky as the wounded tournament dark horse eked out a 2-2 draw against UP in a cardiac nightcap.
The Fighting Maroons salvaged a third straight draw with an Anton Guariña running goal off an Emilio Bongolan through pass in the 90th minute.
But the equalizer could have come as early in the 78th minute but the running goal from Vincent Parpan was waved off due to being offside, much to the protest of the UP coaching staff.
It was tit-for-tat possession wise in the first half and a game of contrasting styles as the Red Warriors drew first blood in the 33rd minute with a booming 15-yarder by midfielder King James Lauriano off a looping cross winger Nikko Palacio from deep left.
Maroon forward Arturo Alleje answered just two minutes later with a header goal off a right corner inswing by Bongolan.
The Red Warriors found the lead anew in the 73rd minute as Champ Marin tapped in for the second goal off a long free kick by defensive midfielder Crimson Inguito.
“Dominating ang laro ng UP ngayon pero maswerte kami na nakakuha kami ng one point,” UE head coach Fitch Arboleda said after the game.
“They’re very hungry,” patted UP head coach Anto Gonzales back at UE. “They get the very best out of their players, nama-maximize talaga [nila],” he added.
UE settles for solo second with two wins and three draws while UP is at solo third with one win, three draws, and one loss.
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