STELLAR KEEPER Artuz Cezar and Team Captain Jose Lopez are the stars for today’s Katipunan clash as they lift the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) past the University of the Philippines (UP) Men’s Football Team, 1-0. The third week’s main event bout of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 occurred earlier this evening at the UP Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.

Recovering from their first loss of the season, Ateneo remains alone on top of the standings with 10 points near the end of the first round of the tournament.

Dictating the first half were close chances, tight defense, and ball control from the get-go, where both teams were on par to open the showdown. Early on, the Fighting Maroons took control of the pacing, almost paying off with a goal which was just ruled offside in the 13th minute.

Within the succeeding 10 minutes, the tables turned in favor of the AMFT, as a Leo Maquiling cross attempt marked the first of many shots the Blue Eagles went for.

Galen Fernandez then followed up Maquiling’s cross attempt 9 minutes later by going for a shot outside the box, but failed to convert. As the 37th minute approached, Ateneo had the opportunity to close an attempt inside the box but faltered once again after multiple chances.

UP then retaliated on the other end as Team Captain Ramil Bation III failed to cash in a 1v1 opportunity against Cezar in the 39th minute. Three minutes later, Liam Lampayan of the Fighting Maroons received his first yellow card, the match’s second, after Ateneo’s Jethro Flores received one at the 17-minute mark.

With the clock approaching the end of the first half, Maquiling once again concluded Ateneo’s last first-half attempt with another cross to Matt Roxas, which went above the crossbar at the 44th minute–three minutes before the end of the half.

Coming into the second half with renewed vigor, the Blue Eagles found a breakthrough with consecutive corners, whipped in by midfielder Maquiling. His final chance led to a scramble in the box, which eventually found Lopez’s boot for a 50th minute goal, 1-0.

However, the Fighting Maroons took possession of the ball for the majority of the half thereafter. This challenge proved to be a heavy but attainable task for the Blue and White as reigning Best Goalkeeper Cezar parried UP’s multiple attempts at a goal.

The most crucial of these saves came in the 64th minute, where the Fighting Maroons had a clear shot at the net. Fortunately for the Blue Eagles, Cezar came up with a massive save to keep his three-game clean sheet record against UP.

Although the Blue Eagles were unable to come up with many chances on the offensive end of the pitch, their defense would come through as attempts from the Fighting Maroons at the 70th and 78th minutes both hit the sides of the crossbar, preserving Ateneo’s precarious lead.

With the bench being deployed in the waning minutes of the match, Ateneo kept UP at bay by continuing on their defensive masterclass. Jet Dela Cruz played a pivotal part in added time, denying the home team from equalizing the match with his defensive prowess to take the Battle of Katipunan, 1-0.

When asked about being the frontrunner for this season’s keeper award, Cezar mentioned that he’s not after individual accolades and only has his eyes set on copping the elusive title for Ateneo.

Additionally, he gave his thoughts on their next game against De La Salle University: “We’re very excited, and hanggang ngayon (until now), we’re preparing for that game.” shared Cezar.

Ateneo has a week to recuperate as they conclude their round one journey through a tough primetime matchup with archrivals, the De La Salle University Green Booters, next Sunday, March 17, at 7:00 PM in the same venue.

Starting XI:

Ateneo (1): Cezar, Flores, Santilices, Dela Cruz, Agyei, Maquiling, F. Roxas, J. Lopez (C), Fernandez, M. Roxas, Bautista

UP (0): Gonzalez, Bongolan, Lobitaña, Tobias, Pagdanganan, F.A. Tacardon, Parpan, F.C. Tacardon, Lampayan, Bode, Bation

Current Table (Points):

ATENEO Blue Eagles (10)

DLSU Green Booters (7)

UST Golden Booters (6)

FEU Tamaraws (6)

UP Fighting Maroons (6)

UE Red Warriors (3)

AdU Soaring Falcons (2)