by Ruf Serafin Rosero
VERMOSA, CAVITE — The University of the East Red Warriors finally snapped a seven-match winless streak against Ateneo de Manila University with a 4–3 win on Sunday night at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub. But instead of celebration, the result will be remembered for one of the most dramatic walkouts in recent UAAP football history.
UE looked dominant for the first hour, storming to a 4–0 lead through Eldrin Madrid (44’), Jerome Abarca (53’), Bernard Magallon (57’), and John Mariveles (60’). Ateneo, however, mounted a furious comeback. John Molina struck in the 79th minute, captain Dov Cariño followed in the 85th, and in stoppage time Kendryx Soriano pounced on a rebound to make it 4–3.
That third Ateneo goal lit the fuse. It came from a free kick awarded after Cariño and UE’s Hernan Belen collided in what the Red Warriors insisted was a fair challenge. Referee Meliton Pelayo initially allowed play to continue, but after consulting his assistant, reversed the decision and called a foul.
A UE defender, who spoke to Fullcourtfresh and requested anonymity, said the team felt robbed. “Hindi talaga yun foul… sabay silang natumba,” he recalled. “So foul na, tapos free kick, nasave tapos rebound na-goal ni [Kendryx] Soriano. Tapos ayun na, nag-walkout na.”
The players followed head coach Frank Muescan’s signal to leave the field, filing into the locker room as Ateneo and the referees looked on in confusion. “Biglang tinawag sila ni Coach, and next thing we know, all 11 players left,” Soriano, who scored the triggering goal, told Fullcourtfresh. “We were so confused… we don’t know what’s going on.”
According to the UE defender, the team had already been frustrated throughout the match by earlier calls, including a goal disallowed for offside. “May mga times na 50–50 challenge, lugi talaga kami sa whistle ng referee,” he said. Still, he insisted the walkout was not directed at Ateneo: “Wala akong nakitang error sa Ateneo kasi naglaro lang din sila. Nagkainitan lang talaga dahil sa referee.”
In the locker room, UAAP officials intervened, warning that the game could be abandoned. “Pinuntahan kami ng taga-UAAP na ipa-abandon daw yung game,” the UE defender revealed. “Eh kami lahat nasayangan kasi panalo na. ayun, bumalik kami.”
When the Red Warriors returned to the pitch, the referees immediately sent off Muescan. The coach later told Tiebreaker Times that the walkout was his way of protesting what he described as a clear officiating failure. “In my 30-plus years of coaching, this is my first time to experience that,” he said. “Since there is no VAR, the referee called for a fair play and then suddenly deemed it as a foul against us. Oh my gosh! I don’t understand it. It was very obvious.”
Soriano, meanwhile, recalled that Ateneo coach JP Merida and captain Dov Cariño instructed the Blue Eagles to stay calm and wait. “Coach JP just told us, we stay on our own half and play our game,” he said. “We were even wondering — if nag-walkout sila while the game is going on, does that mean they forfeit the game?”
UE eventually held on to win 4–3, claiming their first victory over Ateneo since 2019. But even with the three points secured, the defender admitted the incident left a bitter aftertaste. “Kung ano desisyon ng referee, accept na lang natin,” he said. “Pero buong taon namin ito pinag-preparahan tapos ganun lang desisyon sa amin ng referee… masakit talaga. Narinig ko rin sinabi ni Coach na, ‘porket UE lang kami ginaganyanan niyo,’ which is masakit kasi school ko rin yan and parang inuunderestimate kami.”
Ateneo later released a statement of its own through their social media channels. The Blue Eagles admitted that the intensity of the game led to “moments of unprofessional behavior on and off the pitch,” and acknowledged that “some of our actions did not fully reflect the standards of sportsmanship and composure we aim to uphold.”
The statement added that the team is “committed to ensuring better conduct in future matches,” and will “respect and abide by” whatever decision the UAAP hands down after its official review.
UAAP football commissioner Rely San Agustin declined immediate comment, saying only: “A disciplinary committee has been activated to review all the incidents. A decision will be released after board approval.”
We reached out to Ateneo head coach JP Merida for comment, but he has yet to respond as of press time.
Ateneo will aim to return to the win column when they face University of Santo Tomas at 4:30 pm while UE will try to build on their momentum against Adamson University at 7:00 PM. Both matches are scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
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