THE ATENEO Blue Eagles leaned on the heroics of Angely Alferez against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Booters, 1-0, for their first victory of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87. The fixture took place earlier today, October 26, at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
The win currently puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-0-4 win-draw-loss record in the group stage of the UAAP Women’s Football tournament.
Fueling the stunner was veteran forward Alferez, who confidently stirred scoring opportunities to draw advantages for the Blue and White. Alongside Alferez’ strenuous feat, rookie-forward Jada Bicierro and Tootchie Eval bolstered the team’s infield rhythm with their consistent offensive tactics.
The opening half of the match witnessed a battle of productive possessions between the Blue Eagles and the Lady Booters. Driving the Blue and White’s high press offensive tactics were Bicierro and Eval, who both bolstered the team dynamics with confident close range attacks in the first five minutes. Despite Ateneo’s attempt to thread the ball for a goal, UST challenged the Blue Eagles’ composure by imposing their physicality on the defensive end.
Down the stretch, the Katipunan-based eleven produced one-on-one opportunities against the Lady Booters to open scoring chances for the Blue and White. With their show of athletic prowess on the midfield, both teams showed eagerness to bank their first goal of the season through consecutive close range attacks.
At the 26th minute mark, a defensive lapse from the Blue Eagles ultimately caused them a scare as UST nearly scored a goal. Fortunately for Ateneo, the Lady Booters were ruled offside.
Keeping their headstrong demeanor, Ateneo solidified their mark in the match as Alferez found the back of the net at the 37th minute, slotting in their first goal of the season, 1-0.
Reigning with confidence from their first advantage of Season 87, the Blue Eagles donned pride on their sleeves as they concluded the first half of the match with a comfortable lead.
Maintaining their form from the first half, the Blue Eagles’ aggression on both sides continued to ravage the España-based side. The Eval-Bicierro-Espiritu triumvirate continued to wreak havoc on UST’s backline while the Blue and White defense repeatedly put up a wall in front of the Lady Booters.
Ateneo continued their pressure on offense after the hour mark with a series of attempts on goal from Espiritu and Alferez in the span of three minutes. The former almost converted a cross into the box while the latter’s long-range attempt forced UST’s Lizlie Garcia into an acrobatic save.
Bicierro continued her aggression seven minutes later as a nice pass from Team Captain KC Zalamea put her through one-on-one, but her shot unfortunately went above the woodwork. The duo connected again at the 89th minute, but Bicierro was unable to get a good shooting angle, hitting the side netting.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Casals almost blundered her one-on-one against UST’s Rica Gerona, but the Blue and White defense recovered on time. Despite UST’s further attempts at an equalizer, Ateneo held on as their never-ending barrage of proactive defending and incisive attacking put the Lady Booters away for good, 1-0.
Speaking of the victory, Player of the Match Alferez shared how much the victory meant to the team. “We’re very happy. It was amazing because we secured our first goal and first points in the first round, and it was a good end to the first round,” she said in Filipino.
Hoping to solidify their comeback in the season standings, the Blue Eagles aim to stay afloat in the second round of UAAP Season 87.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Casals (GK), Alferez, Benitez, Bicierro, Espiritu, Eval, Francisco, Halili, Schroth, Tolentino, Zalamea (C)
UST (0): Garcia (GK), Anonuevo, Bennett, Fernandez, Gerona, Logastua, Nemenzo, Prado, Ramos, Santerva, Sy
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 9 (+6)
- DLSU Lady Booters – 9 (+5)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 3 (-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 3 (-4)
- UST Lady Booters – 0 (-4)
