STARTING THE second round still on the right foot, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team ensured their immaculate record would remain pristine, after trouncing the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 7-1. The second round match of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Men’s Football tournament took place earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
In what has been a perfect season so far, the Blue and White elevate their record to 21 points with a goal difference of +18, a cut above the rest of the league at solo first.
Team Captain Leo Maquiling and striker Dov Cariño were both given Man of the Match honors following the resounding victory.
In his best game of the season, Maquiling became the first player to achieve a hat-trick in the league and is now tied with Far Eastern University’s Edgar Aban and De La Salle University’s Gabriel Suarez for the second most goals scored with five.
Meanwhile, Cariño contributed to four of Ateneo’s points this evening with three assists and one goal, pacing himself above the rest of the league in the Golden Boot race with a season-best of seven.
From the opening whistle, the Blue Eagles got off to a roaring start by controlling their attacking third while holding down the fort on the defensive end. Just 20 minutes into the match, Ateneo banked on the weak resistance of the Soaring Falcons, finding opportunities to score from within close range.
The first of these chances then materialized in the 22nd minute, with Maquiling managing to outmaneuver both Pius Cueno and goalkeeper Shane Salarda of Adamson to slot in the opening goal from inside the box, 1-0.
Two minutes after drawing first blood, the Blue and White’s impressive offensive display led to yet another goal in the 24th minute, with Cariño finding an unmarked Maquiling once again as the captain connected on his second goal, 2-0.
Although the Loyola Heights-based unit’s stifling defense limited Adamson’s scoring chances, the booters from San Marcelino nearly got their way in the 31st minute with their strike hitting the post. Throughout the midway point of the first half, however, Ateneo relied on keeper Artuz Cezar to parry the Soaring Falcons’ attacks off set pieces in both the 26th and 37th minutes.
In the final five minutes of the half, the Blue and White managed to double their advantage. Proving to be an all-around contributor for the Blue Eagles, Cariño came up with his second assist of the match, setting up Galen Fernandez for a well-timed goal at the 42nd minute, 3-0.
However, two minutes later, a hard Adamson foul on Javier Bengson led to a scuffle that saw the officials hand out three yellow cards on both sides combined. Undeterred by the sudden wave of infractions, Ateneo still managed to close out the opening 45 in spectacular fashion. An impressive goal from veteran Fonzy Escobin in the 45th minute gave the Blue Eagles a whopping 4-0 lead at halftime.
Greeting the next 45 with undiluted vigor, Ateneo continued to apply pressure on Adamson’s defensive third. Maquiling took an early chance and set up Andy Roxas in the 50th minute, whose attempt flew past the crossbar. Much to the midfielder’s frustration, Roxas’ shot from Joaquin Collo’s cross four minutes later also failed to convert into a point.
The Soaring Falcons then hustled to replicate Ateneo’s attacking rhythm and challenged the Blue Eagle backline. Cezar’s imposing presence served as the anchor after confidently blocking Carl Mahinay’s daring attempt in the 59th minute. With both teams grappling for momentum, Escobin, Cariño, and Jethro Flores remained to be Ateneo’s pillars of defense to supplement Cezar against the determined San Marcelino squad.
Midway through the second half, Roxas’ throw-in found Maquiling in the box who successfully tapped it in despite being surrounded by three Adamson defenders, 5-0. After ten minutes of increasing action from both squads, Roxas’ efforts bore fruit as he dashed down the left flank unmarked and sent another shot from beyond the box for the sixth point in the 79th minute.
With a comfortable 6-0 lead, Ateneo exhibited a momentary lapse in defense at the 82nd minute, allowing Adamson’s John Sabaulan to get pass through junior keeper Santi Pastor and make his mark on the scoreboard, 6-1. While Adamson refused to go down without a fight, Ateneo’s deep bench kept the San Marcelino-based squad at bay.
Three minutes into added time, Cariño sealed his high quality performance with a stunning long-range screamer for the seventh point, clipping the Soaring Falcons’ wings to conclude the match, 7-1.
Dedicating his match to his late grandmother and donning a special text on his armband, Maquiling noted how his hat-trick meant more than just an individual accolade for him.
“I’m happy to score a hat-trick. I dedicate those goals to my lola who passed away two days ago, so I’m really happy to be able to score those goals and dedicate those goals to my lola and the Ateneo community,” the skipper shared.
The Blue and White will go back to work in the Katipunan derby redux against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, November 11, at 2:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (7): Cezar (GK), Flores, Dela Cruz, Cariño, M. Roxas, Maquiling (C), Escobin, Collo, Bengson, Fernandez, Arias
AdU (1): Salarda (GK), Pajenado, Mahinay, Dasig, Cueno, Francisco, Ricario, Casing (C), Baculot, Roldan, Hayahay
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 21 (+18)
- FEU Tamaraws – 13 (+12)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 13 (+8)
- UST Golden Booters – 12 (+1)
- DLSU Green Booters- 7 (-5)
- UE Red Warriors – 7 (-8)
- AdU Soaring Falcons – 0 (-26)
